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Matawalle’s Aide Dismisses NSA Harassment Allegations As Political Smear.
An aide to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has firmly rejected claims by the Zamfara State Government that the minister was deploying the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to intimidate opposition figures in the state, describing the allegations as unfounded and politically driven, according to Nivo News.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on Thursday, Alhaji Suleiman Shinkafi, a close associate of the former Zamfara governor, insisted that neither Matawalle nor any federal security agency was involved in targeting political opponents. He dismissed the accusations as a deliberate attempt to distort facts, arguing that the political reality in Zamfara contradicts the state government’s narrative.
Shinkafi maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) currently controls the state, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains the opposition, insisting that claims of opposition harassment were misplaced. He alleged instead that members of the APC had been subjected to intimidation and persecution since the 2023 governorship election, which he described as deeply flawed.
According to him, several APC members are presently in detention over matters he described as politically motivated. He further claimed that his personal safety had been compromised since the election, stating that he had been unable to reside freely in Gusau due to alleged intimidation.
The Zamfara State Government had earlier accused Matawalle of masterminding the alleged harassment of opposition figures through the NSA’s office, following the reported abduction of Saleem Abubakar, a Technical Assistant to Governor Dauda Lawal, in Abuja.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, the state government alleged that Abubakar was apprehended by operatives believed to be linked to a special forces unit operating under the NSA’s office, reportedly without an arrest warrant or adherence to due process.
The government described the incident as alarming and distressing, alleging that Abubakar was moved between undisclosed locations to conceal his whereabouts. It warned that such actions could undermine the neutrality and credibility of Nigeria’s security institutions and called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene.
The state government further maintained that if Abubakar had committed any offence, he should be formally charged and tried in accordance with the law.
However, Matawalle’s camp has continued to deny any involvement in the alleged arrest or harassment, insisting that the claims form part of a calculated political effort to discredit the minister and tarnish the image of federal security agencies.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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