The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has condemned protests against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
The protesters had marched to ghd headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja, demanding the investigation of corruption allegations against the minister.
However, in a statement on Sunday, the Zamfara APC described the protesters as a rented crowd.
The statement was issued by the Zamfara State APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris Gusau and made available to newsmen in Gusau.
The statement stressed the allegations against Matawalle are false.
“In fact, if the claims were true, the EFCC would have since made the details available to the public,” the statement added.
“The rented crowd ignorant of the national laws constitutional and judicial process in the operations of anti graft agencies against a suspect resorted in a protest of envy and vendetta against the rising popularity of the Minister Bello Matawalle.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) explained to the sponsored protesters that the commission’s constitutional mandate is not driven by personal vendettas, political differences and tribal sentiments but focused to uphold the rule of law and combating financial crimes without fear or favor.
“Such protest have been coming from Matawalle’s political rivals organized by a few people from Matawalle’s home State, sometimes using non Zamfara indigenes (one time from the Southeast) who never knew the road to Zamfara and the latest, using people idling in the outskirts of Abuja and beggars to hold placards that they could not even read what the content said against the Minister.
“Meanwhile, back in Zamfara State, the Minister’s support has continued unabated and we strongly believe that such failed protests will always meet brick walls and embarrassment to the sponsors who are presently trying to hide their faces over failure through sponsored protests with a view to distract Matawalle from carrying his assigned national responsibility for the progress and development of our nation.
“At the party level, we know these people and we know their antics and political strength and we want to assure them that their envy against Matawalle will lead them nowhere because the Minister who is the APC leader in Zamfara State, has since moved on with his life and has always shown readiness to work with anyone for the progress of Zamfara State and Nigeria.
“The party leadership at all levels is with him and ready to defend the policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at all levels.
“We are calling on the Hon. Minister to continue with his efforts to achieve peace and security throughout Nigeria for every citizen to go about his legitimate business without fear of being attacked or kidnapped.
“He should not be distracted by the anti progressive elements who don’t mean well for Zamfara State and Nigeria.”