The All Progressives Congress, APC, North-West Zone, has tasked the opposition party in Zamfara State to provide evidence that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle gave palliatives to bandits.
Musa Mada, Zonal Publicity Secretary of the party, while addressing a press briefing in Kaduna on Sunday, said that the party welcomed positive criticisms from the opposition, but such criticisms should not violate the provisions of the freedom of speech.
He accused the Peoples Democratic Party government in Zamfara of persistent slandering the immediate past Governor of the State, Matawalle.
Mada stated that the grievous allegation against Matawalle would not be overlooked and challenged the sponsors of the fake news against the minister tobprovide proof of the alleged foodstuffs’ distribution.
In the alternative, they must tender an apology to the minister in two national newspapers within two weeks.
“If no action is taken from the side of the sponsors of this fake news on expiration of the ultimatum, on 14th April 2024, a legal action will be instituted against them.
“It has come to our notice that some unscrupulous elements in this geopolitical zone, particularly Zamfara, made it their daily habit of using instruments of mainstream and the new media in tarnishing the image of our party leaders.
“Similarly, it is well known fact that the PDP opposition government in Zamfara made name for itself in slandering Matawalle
“As a party, we concede that slandering any of our members with ulterior motives is as good as attacking the structural foundation of our great party.
“Which is intolerable, let alone defaming the character and questioning the integrity of our leaders who earned their reputation through selfless service to the greater good of the entire nation,” said Wada.
The APC said it welcomes positive criticism from the opposition only when such does not violate the provisions of freedom of speech, adding, “we will not condone any form of vituperation that overstepped boundaries of the provisions of the laws of the land.”
