The Zamfara State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s instruction directing the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State following the abduction of twenty-five students from Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga.
Okay News reports that in a statement released on Saturday, the PDP Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Haliru Andi, said the party, led by Jamil Jibo, expressed deep outrage over what they described as an empty political stunt. According to Andi, the directive exposes the inability of the All Progressives Congress-led federal government to tackle Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
Andi asserted, “Even today, attacks persist in his own hometown, proving he lacks the competence and credibility to handle national security issues. The APC government has completely failed Nigeria. The recent brutal attack on a church in Kwara, the abduction of students in Kebbi, the killing of General Uba in Borno, and countless killings and kidnappings across the country all expose the ruling party’s lack of strategy, capacity, and sincerity. Nigeria needs serious leadership, not political theatrics. As such, the APC must stop playing with the lives of citizens.”
In response, the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, through its Publicity Secretary Yusuf Idris, rejected the PDP claims, describing them as “sheer madness” and an attempt to undermine national security operations. Idris emphasized that instead of issuing unpatriotic statements, the PDP should have offered sympathy to the victims and supported the government’s rescue efforts.
He noted that President Tinubu, who had been scheduled to travel abroad for an important engagement, canceled the trip upon learning about the abduction and directed Matawalle to coordinate the rescue in Birnin Kebbi. “And even during late President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, students of GSS Jangebe, GSS Kankara, Katsina State, and Federal College Birnin Yauri in Kebbi were abducted, but none of the former Presidents canceled foreign engagements to directly address such crises except President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who considers every citizen’s life very important,” Idris said.
The APC spokesperson further highlighted that Matawalle had previously taken active measures to destabilize bandit networks while serving as governor of Zamfara State. He stressed that the PDP-controlled state government, led by Governor Dauda Lawal, had failed to address security issues effectively, leaving residents vulnerable.
