The deputy governor of Zamfara State, Mahadi Aliyu, has said that a battle line has been drawn between him and his principal, Bello Matawalle.
Speaking at the end of the state congress of the Zamfara Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Monday night, the deputy governor said there is no more excuses.
“As from today, the battle line has been drawn. If people are killed, we will talk when government keeps silence. When government refuses to open schools, we will talk.
“We will also talk when farmers can’t go to their farmlands or when roads are not constructed for people. From now, up to the time we will take over government, we will keep criticizing bad policies of government,” Mr Aliyu said.
The deputy governor further expressed concern at the “way and manner“ PDP was being treated in the state in the aftermath of the defection of the state governor to the APC.
Mr Aliyu described the PDP as law abiding, pointing out that it has the constitutional right to exist in Zamfara.
He pledged to build a new PDP in the state using vibrant and intellectually-oriented youths.
He said this would enable the party to takeover the leadership of the state after the 2023 general elections.
Mr Aliyu urged the governor to leave the PDP alone and concentrate on tackling the challenges facing the state.
He implored him to provide the state with meaningful development, adding “the education of our children remained at a standstill.”
The newly elected chairman of the party, Bala Mande, said the new leadership was determined to bring developmental changes to the party and the state.
He said the party would continue to be orderly in its operations.
The News Agency of Nigerian reports that the PDP had rescheduled its congress twice before it held on Monday.
On Monday, the party had to relocate to a different venue as the initial venue selected for the congress was attacked by some unidentified people and set alight.
Apart from Mr Mande, the newly elected executives included Kabir Jabaka, who was elected as deputy chairman; Faruk Ahmed, secretary; Abdullahi Salmanu, youths leader and Abba Bello, publicity secretary.
Others were Madina Shehu, women leader; Usama Maharazu, Treasure; Saidu Baidu, Auditor and Shaaibu Attahiru, Legal Adviser.
Abbul Mustapha was elected vice chairman, Zamfara Central; Ali Namoda, vice chairman, Zamfara North and; Muazu Gwashi, vice chairman Zamfara South