The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Nigerians to hold officials of the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) responsible for the festering violence and incessant killing of innocent Nigerians by terrorists.
The party made the call in a Thursday statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
According to the party, a statement credited to Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed that the nation was at the mercy of terrorists was “self-indicting”. Mohammed has since denied making the statement.
The party accused some unnamed “unpatriotic” APC leaders of overtly and covertly supporting terrorists for their selfish interests.
“The PDP recalls how the APC chieftain, as opposition leaders in the APC as well the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), openly showed sympathy to terrorists and took steps that frustrated genuine efforts by the then PDP government to fight terrorism.
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“Nigerians can recall how in 2013, APC leaders, then as ACN leaders, declared the proscription of terrorist groups in Nigeria as unconstitutional and even demanded that terrorists be accorded VIP treatment and should be brought to Abuja for negotiation in private jets; a development that sparked public apprehensions of their suspected links with terrorist groups.
“The PDP further recalls how the APC, as opposition, went on propaganda war to frustrate government’s effort towards procurement of weapons to fight terrorists, with some of them, who are now governors and ministers, accusing then Federal government of seeking to use the weapons to kill opposition members.
“The role played by APC leaders to frustrate the purchase of weapon through South Africa connection is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians.
“Nigerians can also recall how the APC deployed negative propaganda to scuttle efforts by the Jonathan administration to bring in mercenaries that would have assisted in the anti-terrorism war.
“Nigerians would also recall how these APC leaders truncated the training of the elite troops in Belarus by claiming that they were being trained as snipers to kill opposition members before the 2015 general election.
“Our party also recalls how, ahead of the 2015 elections, the APC leaders encouraged hoodlums to fight against the system, with one of them, who is now a minister, emboldening hoodlums and insurgents to resist our security agencies with machine guns,” PDP statement.
The party accused the ruling APC administration of not adequately equipping the military, “thereby jeopardizing the lives of our gallant troops fighting in the fronts, while the Commander-in-Chief, who promised to lead from the fronts, continue to issue unhelpful rhetorics from the safety and comfort of the Presidential villa”.
The statement further read, “The public can recall how the APC Federal Government and APC governors have been making excuses for terrorists, negotiating with, and even paying and pampering the killers of our compatriots.
“Nigerians also know how the APC administration had declared these marauders and bandits as deserters from Gaddafi’s army and yet ask Nigerians not to fight back but accommodate them as neighbors.
“Such subtle support for terrorism was witnessed in the bizarre attempt by the APC-led administration to blame the 43 innocent Nigerians beheaded by terrorists in Borno state on Saturday.
“Moreover the APC has failed to account for thousands of thugs and hoodlums it imported into our country to unleash violence on Nigerians during the 2015 and 2019 election; many of who are feared to be part of the bandits and marauders ravaging our nation today.
“The APC should end its hide and seek and come clean on its connection with the escalated activities of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and killers in our country.”