A group, Zamfara All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Movement has dismissed what it called the protest by a “rented crowd“ calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reopen investigation on alleged N70 billion contracts awarded by the former Zamfara State governor now minister of state for defence, Dr Bello Matawalle.
The group said it was politically motivated to “tarnish his image, reputation and integrity” as a distinguished minister in the President Bola Tinubu‘s government.
In a statement by the chairman, Zamfara APC Concerned Youth Movement, Abubakar Ibrahim Gusau, he said Matawalle‘s political opponents in Zamfara State were afraid of his towering profile and achievements as governor and minister and resorted to propaganda, blackmail, fake news and renting of children and youth to protest, first at the National Assembly against his appointment as minister of state for defence and now at EFCC to reopen an alleged corruption in the N70 billion contracts he awarded as the governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023, which followed due process and passed through the Bureau of Public Procurement in accordance with the requirements and regulations of the Financial and General Purpose Committee (FGPC) and the State Executive Council.
He said it is on record that most of the contracts Matawalle awarded in the 14 local government areas had been completed, and some are ongoing.
There is no documentary evidence where the former governor was indicted for misappropriation, misapplication, and embezzlement of public funds for personal enrichment. Furthermore, there is no Judiciary Commission of Inquiry or anti-graft agency in Zamfara State where Dr Bello Matawalle was indicted for alleged corruption.
More importantly, there is a subsisting court judgement that restrained the EFCC from investigating, arresting, and prosecuting Matawalle. The judgement has not been set aside by a higher court.
We challenge the sponsors of the protest to provide the public with any documentary evidence where the former governor collected funds from any contractor as kick back when he was in office or show any bank account where such funds were siphoned by Matawalle,“ he said.
He noted as governor, Matawalle has the responsibility to award contracts based on specifications, adding that all the terms and conditions were spelt out in the contract agreements, including constructions and supplies. „If a contractor failed to execute his job as stipulated in the contract agreement or divert funds, the EFCC and relevant anti-graft agencies should hold him responsible, not Matawalle,“ he added.
He said this campaign of calumny was allegedly orchestrated by Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of PDP in collusion with some desperate APC members in the state to destabilise their great party in Zamfara State and distract Dr Bello Matawalle from discharging his duties as minister of the Federal Republic, adding that the campaign has failed woefully as APC remains united and strong in the state despite political persecution by the ruling PDP.
