People’s Democratic Party, Nigeria’s wobbling opposition party, on Sunday, derided President Muhammadu Buhari over the deteriorating state of security in the country, telling him that he has failed.
PDP’s scathing comment came as the insecurity in the country took a further descent in the last week, with scores of Nigerians kidnapped in a brazen display of disdain for the government by bandits who dictate terms on which to release their victims.
PDP also noted with concern a recent statement credited to the immediate-past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, who declared that it would take Nigeria 20 years to win the war against terrorism.
This admission “is a direct hit on President Buhari’s failure as a Commander-in-Chief”, PDP noted in a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, its national publicity secretary.
“The party notes with dismay that our nation has descended to a level where government officials and other prominent Nigerians have resorted to begging and negotiating with terrorists, adding that such ugly reality of a failed state confirms that the Buhari administration has surrendered the sovereignty of our nation to bandits, insurgents, and terrorists.
“Moreover, the recent statement by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Magashi, that unarmed Nigerians should protect themselves in the face of armed aggression by bandits and terrorists, further exposes Buhari as a failed Commander-in-Chief, who cannot stand up to the demands of the designation of his office,” PDP said.
. “It should interest Mr. President that a member of his cabinet has declared him ineffective as well as one who is incapable of commanding his parade and guaranteeing the safety of lives and property of our citizens.
“Even more depressing is the disposition of the Buhari Presidency to blame victims of terrorists’ attacks, as was in the case of the beheading of 43 compatriots in Borno state, instead of going after and apprehending the assailants. “Such tendencies against Nigerians exposes the lack of determination by the Buhari administration to fight insurgents which, in turn, emboldens the outlaws who had earlier been pushed to the fringes under the PDP administration, to resurge to unleash terror on our compatriots.
“Nigerians have not forgotten the embarrassing situation where it took Chadian President Idris Derby to personally lead his troops into our territories to rout out insurgents and free Nigerian communities as well as our soldiers held captive by terrorists, while our President recedes into the comfort and safety of the inner recesses of the Aso Presidential villa.
“Indeed, a Commander-in-Chief that cannot lead from the fronts, as President Buhari promised to, and who blames everyone but himself for his own failures, leaves much to be desired.
“Indeed, our nation cannot afford the ongoing gruesome mass killings, bloodletting, arson, kidnapping, and all sorts of mindless atrocities by bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, and vandals. “Our party, therefore, charges President Buhari to end his administration’s lethargic and cowardly disposition towards the handling of security matters in our country. “Mr. President must stand up to the demands of his office and designation as the Commander-in-Chief.”
Various bands of terrorists, now commonly described as bandits, roam Nigeria’s forests and highways, kidnapping citizens freely, largely unchallenged and setting the terms for the release of the victims.
On Sunday, Feb. 14, a group of such terrorists accosted a bus belonging to the Niger State transport company and kidnapped at least 18 passengers. The gunmen later released a video clip showing them brandishing their guns, including rocket launchers, as they traumatized the hapless victim who included men, women, boys and girls, and little children.
About three days later, another group with ties to the first one attacked a government science school in the same state and took away over 100 students, staff, and their family relations.
