Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said repeated public denials by bandit leaders of any association with the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, point to what it described as a political plot against the former governor.
The party alleged that despite such denials, the Zamfara State Government under Governor Dauda Lawal has continued relentless campaigns aimed at linking Matawalle to banditry and insecurity in the North, allegedly to pressure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove him from office.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, the party cited video recordings in which bandit leader Bello Turji denied ever working for or being sponsored by Matawalle, either during his tenure as governor or as minister.
The APC alleged that the state government was using public funds to mobilise individuals and groups, including religious figures, political agents and protesters, across different parts of the country to promote claims linking Matawalle to insecurity.
