From Okwe Obi, Abuja
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has flayed calls for the sack of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
A Civil Society Advocacy Groups for Accountability and Probity, had protested at the National Assembly, calling for the removal of the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, for hoarded utility vehicles.
But Shinkafi, who is the Director, Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, in a statement yesterday, described the protest as “politically motivated, unpatriotic and mischievous”, and issued a 14-day ultimatum to the leaders of the protest to tender an apology to the Minister or face the full wrath of the law for defamation of character.
He said: “The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle is a man of integrity, an astute administrator, renowned civil servant, eminent Commissioner in Zamfara State, distinguished Legislator, outstanding Governor and passionate Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who successfully scaled all security screenings and documentations, and had no petition by individuals or groups against his nomination at the National Assembly before his screening and confirmation as Minister.
“He is a man of impeccable character, high moral standard and an embodiment of patriotism who served 12 years as a member of the House of Representatives and was Chairman of the House Committee on Security and Intelligence for four years.
“The frivolous allegation that Matawalle hoarded utility vehicles is sub judice as the matter is before the Federal High Court Sokoto.
“It is mischievous to politicize a matter before a court of competent jurisdiction.”
He claimed that “Governor Dauda Lawal did not constitute any Administrative Panel of Inquiry let alone invited Matawalle to give account of his stewardship as governor of Zamfara State.
“The allegation of Matawalle being indicted by a panel of inquiry is false, a fabrication and political propaganda to tarnish his reputation by political jobbers and their sponsors.
“It is obvious that the rented crowd called protesters were not conversant with the Supreme Court judgement which declared that only a court of competent jurisdiction could indict a person of any criminal offence, not a Federal or State Government Administrative Panel of Inquiry.
“The allegation of embezzlement of Zamfara State International Cargo Airport funds is the figment of the fertile imagination of the rented crowd who did not know that the award and execution of the project is a Public-Private Partnership.
“The project was initiated by the Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi and Abdullazizi Yari administrations and abandoned.
“It was Governor Bello Matawalle’s government that implemented it as part of his legacy project.
“The airport run-way is about 80% completed with other structures. The company handling its construction AVIC International Holding Corporation has sued Zamfara State Government to court for defamation of character against its managing director and the organization for alleged embezzlement and diversion of Zamfara State funds.”