APC defends minister over airport project funds

The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, against allegations of embezzlement committed by his administration in the construction of the Gusau Cargo Airport while he was the governor of the state.

Matawalle is the immediate past governor of Zamfara State.

The state government under Governor Dauda Lawal recently accused Matawalle’s administration of allegedly embezzling public funds in the project.

However, the Zamfara APC, in a statement issued on Saturday by its Public Secretary, Yusuf Idris, described the allegations as baseless.

Idris called on incumbent PDP-led government to verify its records and put in the right perspective.

Idris stated: “The PDP-led government should give the right information to the public as regards to the ongoing Zamfara Cargo Airport project.

“Government is a continuous process, lets the present administration in the state explain the true positions of the project.

“We are all aware that, before Matawalle left office significant progress was recorded in the project.”

He added that “suprisingly and unfortunately”, the state government said only 19 per cent progress was achieved.

“The state APC leadership is therefore calling on the PDP-led government to focus on addressing the prevailing security challenges bedevilling the state instead of creating unnecessary allegations to divert public attention,” he stated.

The Star