(NIGERIA) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said no amount of blackmail and wild allegations against President Goodluck Jonathan can exonerate the All Progressives Congress (APC) of blame for insurgency and violence ravaging the North.
National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement issued yesterday, claimed that inciting utterances of APC leaders, including their presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, have served as fuel to the raging flame of terrorism. According to the PDP, by going to the international media recently to distance themselves from complicity and turning round to blame the PDP, the main opposition party is asking Nigerians to suddenly forget the barrage of statements by their leaders that promoted insurgency.
The party said whereas a statement from a person of General Buhari’s age and status could have helped doused tension, the APC flagbearer chose incendiary remarks, which emboldened insurgents, apparently in keeping with the agenda of his party to achieve political control through violence.
“Nigerians have not forgotten the spontaneous violence and mayhem on innocent citizens following inciting statements by Buhari and other APC leaders then in the defunct CPC, upon losing the 2011 presidential election.
“The APC leaders have so far left no Nigerian in doubt of their party’s violent disposition as General Buhari in May 2012, remorselessly stated that ‘the monkey and baboon will be soaked in blood’ should he lose the 2015 presidential election.
“Nigerians have also read and heard other ricocheting calls for violence and threats of parallel government from other leaders of this same party. These are not just mere slips, but incontrovertible snips from the agenda of the APC to sustain insurgency and set the stage for carnage if they lose the 2015 general elections.
“We find it funny that the APC which has presented its flagbearer, General Buhari, as a macho mascot that will bring insurgency to an end in a matter of weeks using sheer force, is turning round to play the card of dialogue just to disparage the President. Ironically, for over a year of General Buhari’s draconian rule in the 1980s and even now in pretended love for democracy, the General is never known to be amenable to any form of dialogue. So, where will this hyped Midas Touch on dialogue come from?
“Well-meaning Nigerians appreciate the way and manner the Jonathan administration is confronting insurgency, using dialogue and military option. Twice, the Council of State has appraised and endorsed this approach despite spirited efforts by the opposition to distract the President and demoralize our security forces,” the PDP added.
(REPORT FROM THE SUN)
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