PDP Chides Gov Idris Over Threat To Deal With Clerics

From Samaila Bayo, Birnin Kebbi

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kebbi State Chapter at the weekend bemoaned the statement credited to Governor Nasir Idris threatening to deal with any Cleric found cricising his administration.

A statement signed by the Strategic Communications Unit of the PDP in the state condemned the governor's outbursts against the Islamic clerics saying that the PDP was 

gravely disturbed by the latest turn of events and matters arising from the Traditional Durbar and Sallah Homage to the Executive Governor of the State by the Gwandu Emirate Council.

It said "The occasion, supposedly an avenue of joy and merriments, and a moment for sober reflections in line with the teachings and lessons of the Ramadan period, was tragically turned into an arena for settling personal scores with some individuals perceived to be opponents of the Government.

"It is pertinent to acknowledge that His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gwandu, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Iliyasu Bashar CFR, represented by the Wazirin Gwandu, raised some fundamental problems bedevilling our dear State, including the menace of the ever growing number of Almajirai and other Out of School Children, the worsening Unemployment situation, and issues around Sanitation and beautification of the state capital, amongst others.

"But instead of responding to these critical areas and also taking advantage of the occasion to showcase his modest achievements and unfold plans towards addressing these teething concerns, the Governor veered off track and resorted to addressing frivolous matters that could best be administratively handled by a Ministerial Department, or the State Preaching Board. 

"To our utter shock and amazement, the Governor was recorded by his own media aides making open threats to deal with any Cleric whose activities are found to be critical of the present administration, without recourse to the constitutional provisions of fundamental freedoms of expression and association".

It added that the decision to single out APC members as preferred beneficiaries of the Government's incentives as clearly stated in the Governor's speech was not only undemocratic and illegal, but also negates the sanctity of the Oath of Office he had sworn and pledged to uphold.

"Let us also remind His Excellency that the PDP holds the Office of the Executive Governor in high esteem, and equally respects the sanctity of that Office, being a 2-time Occupant of the exalted Office from 2007 to 2015. 

"We, therefore, found the utterances contained in the video as demeaning, condescending,  unstatesmanlike, and completely unbecoming of the holder of the Office of Executive Governor", it said.