The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has disclosed that it never promised Nigerians a country that is totally free of crime.
It said its administration only promised to combat terror and drive down crime rates, saying that no country has a totally crime-free society.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, made this known on SundayPolitics, a programme on Channels Television.
Shehu said this while reacting to allegations that the government had failed in its responsibilities following herdsmen-farmers clashes that have left to the loss of many lives.
He said, “I think that nobody, no politician should try to deceive Nigerians by saying that there is a country without lawlessness.”
The presidential aide added, “Even when he (Buhari) campaigned – the President, yes, committed to ridding the country of terror but he would never have said that this country would be 100 per cent without criminality.”
Shehu noted that the government would continue to work assiduously for the safety and security of Nigerians and called on opposition figures to join the government to find solutions instead of lurking around to score cheap political points.
The president’s spokesman also described as untruth allegations that the president was visiting states affected by various crises for political reasons.
“I would have thought that if he had intended to inject politics into it, he would have been on the plane the morning after the incident,” Shehu said.
“But he chose to act, rather than to talk and as you have seen yourself over this period of time, there was intervention by law enforcement, there was intervention by NEMA and aid agencies.”
Speaking on Buhari’s visit to Benue State today, Shehu said it would take the same format as last week’s visit to Taraba.
“The programme, as it stands now, is as we had it in Taraba. There will be a meeting of stakeholders in the State House.
“The President will listen to all the parties in the conflict and thereafter, he will deliver his own homily and, of course, sympathies to the people over the unfortunate losses of persons and property.”