The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State has lamented the return of Thuggery allegedly by supporters of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The APC State Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau at a Press Conference in Gusau on Wednesday stated that, PDP thugs returned with their Thuggery after the Appeal Court ruling which returned the party to participate in the 2023 general elections
He said, “You are aware that the governorship candidate of the main opposition PDP in our dear state has returned via a Court of Appeal Sokoto ruling of last Friday, having gone through an intraparty squabbles while the ruling APC was only a spectator.
“With the return of the PDP governorship candidate however, the peace that we were enjoying was thrown to the wolves as the party has began to unleash its terror groups on us.
“This was manifested on Monday when the PDP thugs blocked a vehicle that had His Excellency, Governor Bello Matawalle’s laminated pictures, destroyed it before setting it on fire with one of the arrested arsonists saying, he did what he did following the specific instruction by the PDP governorship candidate, Dauda Lawal Dare on them to burn all APC logo carrying vehicles in the state.
“The suspect, Yusuf Aminu from Gangaren ‘Yar Rumfa of Gusau through a video clip told the police he committed the act to the satisfaction of his candidate, Dauda Lawal Dare”.
Gusau however said, the APC leadership and members have always called for calm so that peace will reign which he said is being viewed as a sign of weaknesses.
The APC Publicity Secretary added, “We want to sound a serious and categorical warning that what just happened should be the last time that the PDP or any of its sponsored miscreants would do to us with violence or criminal attitude,
“They know that we have the increasing capacity to face them anytime, anywhere and will be ready for any of their antics.
“The opposition PDP must know that no one has monopoly of troubles, if that is what they want, we also know their houses, their vehicles and even their movement”.
According to him, the APC has always supported both the government and security agencies in maintaining peace, law and order in the state and shall continue with the support.
He warned, “But we won’t tolerate any further attack even in a verbal way from the PDP again especially when such attackers and hoodlums like the arrested Yusuf Aminu confessed to the police that they were deployed directly by Dauda Lawal Dare the party’s governorship candidate to do what he was arrested for.
“Recall that the same PDP recruited thugs who attacked APC supporters and from Zamfara/Sokoto border up to the state capital, Gusau as well as used guns at another time to shoot at innocent citizens killing and wounding same both last year during Dauda Dare’s events without recourse to the law or public interests as they sometimes carryout such dastardly acts right in front of police stations.
“We are currently campaigning and soliciting votes from the electorate and they equally should be doing just that under a conducive political environment that has been provided by the focused leadership of our amiable governor, Matawalle.
“We at the APC, with the government in power and a strong following from the good people of the state, have always stand by the good stance of Governor Matawalle in ensuring peace in the state as we demonstrated while launching our zonal campaigns and local government campaigns which were completely rancour free and without harassment to anybody or anything PDP”.
The APC stalwart said that, they see politics and peaceful coexistence and going hand-in-hand and wish to call on the leadership of the PDP to call their thugs to order without which the APC will match their attacks appropriately.
He further added, “The PDP thugs had perpetrated such twice before now, so enough is enough.
“Finally, we are calling on all our members to continue to remain peaceful and law abiding.
“We also commend security agencies and their operatives in the state for their steadfastness, prompt action and bringing all bad elements to book.
“Note that the APC whether in or out of government is completely against blood letting and destruction of public property which have become the trademark and synonymous with the opposition PDP in our state now.
“Therefore, we wish to again appeal to our good people to continue to join hands with the APC again all the recalcitrants by immediately exposing them whenever and wherever they go on their wanton sprees”.
