Zamfara PDP criticises Tinubu’s negative security directive as APC defends federal response to Kebbi school abductions
Democratic Party on Saturday condemned what it described as a negative security directive issued by President Bola Tinubu instructing Minister of Defence, State, Bello Matawalle to relocate to Kebbi following the abduction of students of Government Girls Secondary School Maga.
Also read: Zamfara PDP slams Tinubu’s negative security directive
PDP Publicity Secretary Alhaji Haliru Andi said the instruction amounted to a failure of the APC-led Federal Government to resolve the worsening security crisis.
Andi, speaking on behalf of state chairman Jamil Jibo, said the directive was an empty drama designed to mislead Nigerians.
He argued that Bello Matawalle lacked the capacity to manage a national emergency, adding that attacks continued in Matawalle’s own hometown despite his role in the defence ministry.
He cited recent tragedies, including the killing of General Uba in Borno, the abduction of schoolchildren in Kebbi and the attack on a church in Kwara, as evidence that the government had no effective strategy in place.
Andi said Nigeria needed serious leadership rather than what he described as political theatrics.
The criticism drew a swift and fierce response from APC Publicity Secretary Yusuf Idris, who labelled the PDP’s remarks as an attempt to undermine national security.
He said the state’s opposition party should have issued a sympathy message to Kebbi residents instead of releasing what he called an unpatriotic statement that could amount to a felony.
Idris commended President Tinubu for cancelling a planned foreign trip to South Africa after the Maga abductions.
He argued that no previous president had suspended international engagements because of a school kidnapping, describing Tinubu’s decision as a powerful demonstration of commitment to citizens’ safety.
He added that student abductions had occurred under multiple administrations, referencing incidents in Chibok, Dapchi, Kankara, Jangebe and Birnin Yauri.
Idris insisted that Matawalle had made significant efforts to combat banditry when he governed Zamfara, while accusing current Governor Dauda Lawal of failing to support victims or provide effective state-level leadership.
Idris said the Zamfara PDP had repeatedly sought Matawalle’s removal from office but failed.
Also read: 15 Zamfara PDP members defect to APC
He questioned why the party opposed the president’s directive for the minister to coordinate the rescue effort, arguing that such resistance raised doubts about its priorities.
