Katsina — Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Katsina State has crticised Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema for allegedly trying to muzzle dissenting views in the state.

The CPC in a press statement signed by its caretaker committee chairman in the state, Farouk Adamu Aliyu, said, "The CPC's opinion is that 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."

The CPC also said Shema's "mis-governance" will always be challenged by well meaning citizens of the state whether in the ruling party or the opposition parties.

It reaffirmed its support to the former secretary to Katsina State Government, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa Muhammad, who is being accused of defamation by Governor Shema.

It noted that the views expressed by Mustapha which formed the basis of Gov Shema's litigation are views of the party.

But in a swift reaction, the Katsina state chairman of PDP, Rabiu Gambo Bakori, said the CPC's statement amounted to ranting of unorganized people insisting that there was no opposition in Katsina state.

Bakori noted that the ruling PDP in the state was guided by the needs to transform the state and challenged the CPC to "come out clear and say if we have not been providing genuine transformation in the state."