Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised alarm over alleged victimisation and intimidation of its members and former government officials under the immediate past administration of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal spokesperson of the party, in a statement also expressed displeasure at the unlawful involvement of security operatives, who have been deployed to harass its members, especially former local government council chairmen, Commissioners, and party officials.
Specifically, the party raised alarm over the needless intimidation and wanton arrest by security agents of it members over vehicles duly auctioned to them by the immediate past administration.
The party recalled how past governments (Federal and State) have implemented the monetization policy of their outgoing officials by auctioning official residence and vehicles according to the provisions of the law.
Hassan in the statement said, we unequivocally state that, government officials during the administration of former governor, Aliyu Wamakko, including the present governor, Ahmed Aliyu, who was the Commissioner for Health at that time, were assigned official vehicles for official duties.
“After Aminu Tambuwal was elected as governor, Wamakko’s appointees went away with the vehicles without any form of evidence that they were auctioned to them. Tambuwal however, looked the other way.
“At the expiration of Tambuwal’s tenure, official vehicles assigned to local government council chairmen, Commissioners and other functionaries of government, were duly officially auctioned to them, with proof to show.
“We are determined to resist all unlawful attempts by any person or group to victimize or oppress our members and their families for political reasons.”
PDP however, observed how the Sokoto State governor, Ahmad Aliyu and his party (APC), has resorted to using security personnel to intimidate PDP officials, who legally acquired the vehicles through auction.
The party leadership however, called on the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of DSS, and that of the NSCDC, to caution the heads of security agencies in Sokoto State against allowing their men to be used for political vendetta.