By Valentine Amanze
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday flayed President Muhammadu Buhari for describing the worsening insecurity in the country as “isolated” cases.
Rather than isolated cases, the opposition party said the country was mired in an orgy of “gruesome killings, bloodletting, violence and widespread kidnapping in various parts of our country.”
While hosting the National Executive of the Buhari Campaign Organisation in the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, President Buhari frowned at those criticising his administration over “isolated security challenges” in some parts of the country.
“Every country in the world has security challenges. While we have made significant progress in the fight against terrorism, we acknowledge that there are also new and emerging challenges like kidnapping and banditry” Buhari told his guests.
“I assure you and Nigerians that we will not relent in our efforts to secure the country from criminal activities. Those who politicise the isolated cases of insecurity are not patriotic Nigerians.
“I’m confident that this administration uses all resources at its disposal to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians and not just prominent Nigerians or those who make headlines.’’
But reacting on Wednesday, the PDP described the president’s comment as unfortunate, adding that it further “exposed the incompetence of the Buhari Presidency as well as its insensitivity to the pain and anguish of victims of unabating violence under this administration.”
“The PDP notes that such underplay of serious security situation,
particularly at this time that many communities and families in Nigeria
are hurting and looking up to leaders for comfort and assurances, is a
direct spat on the graves of the victims and assault on the sensibility
of compatriots,” a statement by the national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said.
“Do President Buhari and the leaders of his party, the All Progressives
Congress (APC), know the excruciating pain of orphans and widows in
various parts of our nation, who daily live in anguish over the death of
their breadwinners in the hands of marauders, bandits and insurgents?
“Do the President and the APC know the torment of families whose loved
ones are languishing in kidnappers’ dens; or the pain of parents whose
promising sons and daughters never returned, but cut in their prime by
killers?
“Do the President and APC leaders know the terror of travelling on our
roads and the torture of falling into the hands of kidnappers and
bandits?
“It is indeed sad that while our nation is mourning, leaders sit in their
comfort and safety to make insensitive comments.”
The party urged the president to immediately take decisive
steps that will put an end to the killings and violence in the country.
