President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration that those attacking critical infrastructure in the country would be treated “in the language they understand” has continued to generate criticism hours after it was tweeted.
The President made the declaration after receiving a briefing from Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on the series of attacks on the commission’s facilities nationwide.
Unknown gunmen have destroyed no fewer than 11 INEC offices, 13 vehicles, 429 generators, and other property in over 41 attacks in the last few months, especially in the South-East geopolitical zone.
“I received a briefing today from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on the series of attacks on their facilities nationwide. These attacks are totally unacceptable, and we will not allow those behind them to achieve their evil objectives.
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“I have assured INEC that we will make available to them everything they need to operate efficiently, so that no one will say we don’t want to go, or that we want a third term. There will be no excuse for failure. We will meet all of INEC’s demands.
“In the area of security, we have changed the Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General, and we are demanding that they rise fully to the challenges confronting us. There must be zero tolerance for all those those bent on destroying our country by promoting crime and insurrection!
“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” President Buhari tweeted.
However, many critics have described the comment as an attempt to justify a repeat of the Civil War experiences on the South-East.
Read comments monitored on Twitter:
Exactly a month ago, General @MBuhari was “appealing” to herdsmen and bandits to stop their acts of terror. A month later, another Buhari is threatening the Southeast with Nigerian Civil War 2
How can one man have strikingly different reactions to similar events? #TableShaker
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 1, 2021
Buhari basically said: we slaughtered your parents 30 years ago. We will slaughter you again. The Igbo is not only endangered but face genocide in Nigeria. Do you know see why the #SitAtHome was successful? It is never about IPOB or Kanu. It is about the survival of the Igbo. https://t.co/2g10hwC5Hs
— Mazi Gburugburu (@Mazigburugburu1) June 1, 2021
Each time Buhari speaks to Fulani bandits, He begs them. He appeals to them.But when Buhari speaks to citizens, He threatens us.
— Sunday Igboho (@_IgbohoSunday) June 2, 2021
Bandits are given money and allowances with round table meeting but Buhari has the guts to threaten Ndi Igbo with repetition of the Civil War.
The audacity of the President!
— DANNY WALTER 👑 (@Danny_Walterr) June 1, 2021
You'd find folks making a case for Buhari by saying that he only mentioned criminals not the entire region. So the 3 million people that perished in the 30 month war were all criminals? Can you hear yourselves?
— fred4U (@frediecruze) June 2, 2021
The same Buhari that said "Any attack on Boko Haram is an attack to the north"??
Nothing from that King in the North surprises me again.
— Elvis Tunde ➐ (@Tunnykvng) June 2, 2021
First frame; Buhari begging Bandits and Terrorists to release the Kidnapped students.
Second Frame: Buhari threatening a whole region with war. pic.twitter.com/DZFQvxstS5
— Premier (@SodiqTade) June 1, 2021
I told you guys that the FG is behind these unknown gunmen, some of you Igbos with light brain were insisting it was IPOB. Buhari has been looking for a reason to repeat 1967. They did the testing microphone during #Endsars and nothing happened, now they have full confidence..
— Unu Amaro Kam Siri Kwado (@AfamDeluxo) June 1, 2021