Killings: PDP Calls Out APC, Buhari, Demands President Visits Troubled Areas

Stunned by the rivers of blood flowing unabated in the country, especially, in some Northern States,  opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expressed shock at what it described as the insensitivity of President Muhammadu Buhari and the  ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the frightening situation.

In a very strongly worded statement on Sunday, December 19, signed by its National Publicity Secretary,  Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said it was horrified that in the midst of the horrifying situation, especially the “escalated killings, the APC Ieadership found it appropriate to proceed to Katsina for the turbaning of Yusuf, President Buhari’s son, as a District Head.

Said the statement: “Is it not unpardonable that while the APC had failed to show empathy on the gruesome murder of scores of travelers who were burnt alive in Sokoto State, the massacre of over 15 worshipers in Niger State,  other compatriots felled in Kaduna, Katsina and other parts of the country in the last few days, its leaders and officials in Government had the time to attend the turbaning ceremony of President Muhammadu Buhari’s son in the same troubled Katsina State.”

The party said it was both provocative and vexatious that “the APC leaders would party while the Nation burns.”

It accused the APC of complicity in the worsening insecurity in the country.

“The manifest numbness of the leaders to bloodletting as well as the failure of the APC, as a party, to proffer any tangible solution or forcefully take its government to task on security, validate apprehensions on APC’s reported complicity in the worsened insecurity in our nation in the last six years”

The PDP  urged President Buhari to demonstrate empathy and leadership by visiting the affected States “in line with his campaign promise to lead the fight against terrorism from the front instead of always pushing his responsibilities to others.”

Following is the full text of the statement.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vehemently condemns the indefensible insensitivity of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party in power, to the escalated killings in Sokoto, Niger, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau states and other parts of the country by terrorists.

“The manifest numbness of the APC leaders to bloodletting as well as the failure of the APC, as a party, to proffer any tangible solution or forcefully take its government to task on security, validate apprehensions on APC’s reported complicity in the worsened insecurity in our nation in the last six years.

“Is it not unpardonable that while the APC had failed to show empathy on the gruesome murder of scores of travelers who were burnt alive in Sokoto state, the massacre of over 15 worshippers in Niger state, other compatriots felled in Kaduna, Katsina and other parts of the country in the last few days, its leaders and officials in government had the time to attend the turbaning ceremony of President Muhammadu Buhari’s son in the same troubled Katsina state?

“Is it also not provocative, vexatious and indeed the height of heartlessness that APC and its leaders party while Nigeria burns?

“Such callous assault on the sensibility of Nigerians which amounts to dancing on the graves of the victims of the attacks further exposes the APC as a party that is completely unfeeling to killings, attaches no value to lives and has no commitment towards the fight against terrorism in our country.

“The PDP, standing in solidarity with Nigerians, calls out the APC to come clean on its alleged connection to killings, the benefit it derives from violence and bloodletting and why it attaches no value to human lives.

“Nigerians can recall that despite demands by the PDP, the APC and its leaders have failed to account for the “political mercenaries” they reportedly imported from neighboring countries as thugs, gangsters and hoodlums to unleash violence on Nigerians during the 2019 elections. The APC has also not explained the continued presence of a self-confessed terrorism apologist in its government.

“The least Nigerians expect of the APC is to forcefully give its government a marching order to develop wholesome strategy to proactively tackle insecurity, including targeting the source of fund to terrorists, many of which were revealed by a foreign government, yet the APC government refused to take action.

“Unfortunately, the APC as a party of selfish and blood thirsty “political bandits” does not have the commitment,APC readiness or capacity to do so.

“Furthermore, the PDP charges President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate leadership and empathy by personally visiting the troubled states in line with his campaign promise to lead the fight against terrorism from the front instead of always pushing his responsibilities to others.

“The PDP again commiserates with victims of the horrific attacks. We also urge Nigerians not to resign to despondency but continue to support one another and remain focused as we scale up our collective efforts to rescue and rebuild our nation from misrule.”