The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) charges President Muhammadu Buhari
to end his “private visit” abroad and immediately return home to face
the deteriorated security situation in the country.
According to a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, “The Party
describes as completely unacceptable for President Buhari to
practically abandon his responsibilities, as the Commander-In-Chief,
at least for now, to pursue unexplained private matters in foreign
lands, while bandits, marauders, and insurgents seize our nation;
maim, kidnap and kill our citizens with reckless abandon.
“President Buhari’s inattention has emboldened insurgents and bandits
to continue to over-run communities, unleash mayhem and bloodletting
on citizens in Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe Taraba, Kaduna,
Benue, Kogi and other states of the federation, including Mr.
President’s home state, Katsina.
“While President Buhari wanders abroad, bandits are having a field
day, pillaging communities in Katsina state; killing several persons
and abducting the District Head of his hometown, Daura, Musa Umar; the
father-in-law of Mr. President’s security aide.
“Within this period, marauders invaded communities in Adamawa and
killed no fewer than 26 innocent Nigerians; many more have been killed
in Borno, Taraba, Benue, and Zamfara states, where bandits also
reportedly attacked Government Girls Secondary School Moriki and
kidnapped some school girls.
“While the Buhari administration remains virtually nonchalant,
kidnappers have taken over many of our major highways, with hundreds
of compatriots held in captivity in forests along Kaduna-Abuja,
Taraba-Katsina-Ala and other highways in the country.
“It is clear that President Buhari has not demonstrated the required
capacity to control the security situation and now resorts to cheap
escapism, particularly in the face of allegations in the public space
that certain individuals around his administration are benefitting
from the situation.
“This is in addition to allegations that some of the bandits arrested,
in states such as Katsina, are not Nigerians but aliens allegedly
imported by the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Niger Republic to
assist it in unleashing violence and rigging the 2019 general elections.
“The PDP urges the police to investigate this alleged links.
“The fact remains that President Buhari has completely failed our
nation. In fact, his dereliction to duty is a clear signal that he has
been practically overwhelmed, deflated and has nothing to offer.
“The situation in Nigeria today signposts the terrible condition our
nation will face if the Presidential mandate is not retrieved at the
tribunal to enable competent and uncompromised hands to run the
affairs of our country.
“The PDP, therefore, calls on President Buhari to immediately return
home and use the remaining part of his tenure to seek help instead of
wandering abroad under the guise of private visits