The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Katsina State has chided state governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema for allegedly trying to muzzle dissenting views in the state, accusing him of being allergic to critical views on how the state is being governed.
In a press statement signed by the CPC caretaker committee chairman in the state, Faruk Adamu Aliyu, a copy of which was made available to LEADERSHIP, the party urged Governor Shema “to immediately put a stop to the practice of being paranoid to the slightest criticisms of his government’s actions or inactions.
“The governor must resist the temptation of being a small dictator or an aspiring emperor in search of notoriety by rushing to the courts each time he is criticized.”
It further noted that any misgovernance by the governor would always be challenged by well meaning citizens of the state whether in the ruling party or the opposition parties.
The party reaffirmed its support to former secretary to Katsina State government, Dr Mustapha Inuwa Muhammad, who is being accused of defamation by Governor Shema, noting that the views expressed by Dr Mustapha which formed the basis of Gov Shema’s litigation were views of the party.
However, the state chairman of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rabiu Gambo Bakori, has described CPC’s statement as the ranting of unorganized people, insisting that there was no opposition in Katsina State.
“Let them first of all think of how to settle their seemingly unending internal squabble before making any noise” Bakori said. “We need constructive criticism and not petty jealousy which has become the lot of the CPC.”