The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State has accused the state government of plotting to assassinate its top officials in order to quiet the state's opposition.
At a press conference on Monday, the state party chairman, Bala Mande, said the state government had obtained an arrest warrant for the party's Deputy Chairman, Kabiru Jabaka, for accusing Governor Bello Matawallle of travelling to the Niger Republic to watch local wrestling (Dambe) while bandits are on the loose in Zamfara.
The governor is also enraged, according to the PDP, since he has been asked to account for a N31 billion federal grant to the state, as well as his and security votes.
Mr. Mande, a retired military officer, stated that the PDP will fight any attempt to intimidate and harass its members, and he urged the "United States of America, the United Kingdom, and advanced democracy countries to deny VISA to people participating in undemocratic acts" in Zamfara.
"We learn that my Deputy, Professor Kabiru Jabaka, is currently being sought to be arrested by all means possible." The state government has obtained an arrest warrant for him for no reason other than speaking the truth about the governor leaving his state when people were being murdered, slain, abducted, and raped and travelling across the border to Niger Republic to watch wrestling.
We urge on the international community's democratic supporters to do what is necessary to deter this type of mindset by denying visas to offenders of this undemocratic attitude. If they aim to destroy democracy, they have no right to visit democratic countries. This is my request to the democratic world not to grant visas to anti-democratic groups in our country."
In light of previous assaults;
The PDP further maintained that the report it received on the recent attacks in Bukkuyum and Anka LGAs showed that the number of people killed was over 200, as opposed to the 58 declared by the state government.
According to the information we, the opposition, have, they are not 58, but more than 200. Over 150 corpses were recovered in Bukkuyum alone.
"As a result, we have been calling on both the federal and state governments, as well as the various security services, to be aware of their obligations in order to save our citizens' lives and keep them secure," the opposition said.