From Chuks Moses, Awka
In a rare display of political courage, the House of Representatives has summoned President Muhammadu Buhari to offer explanations for the insecurity that has enveloped Benue State leading to the death of nearly 60 persons, including two Catholic priests, in the last 48 hours.
The Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has however criticised what it described as his hypocritical and taunting condolences whenever lives are lost in Benue, warning he might be the last President of a United Nigeria.
The House members declined a motion asking its leadership to meet with Buhari, but passed one that asked that he come to them to aansee questions. They also asked that he sack his service and security chiefs who have been unable to tame uncontrolled bloodbath by herdsmen and bandits across the country.
His spokesman, Femi Adesina, has said he would act as appropriate when he receives the formal House summons.
The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) described the condolence message by President Muhammadu Buhari to the people of Benue state on the killings of 19 Christian worshippers including two Reverend priests by Fulani herdsmen as merely hypocritical and taunting, and evokes no sincere emotions.
The sharp reaction was conveyed in a press statement from the group’s leader, Uchenna Madu. He wondered how the President could send condolences to the victims.
“We know that MIYETTI ALLAH, the real terrorist movement using Fulani herdsmen as a camouflage is the fourth worst terrorist organization in the world ranking. They have openly vowed and threatened, even their sponsors and patrons which includes the religious, traditional and opinion leaders that they will continue to dominate and terrorize all perceived enemies and oppositions,” the statement said.
Buhari’s condolences, MASSOB added, was to ridicule the people of Benue state as well as the Christian faith.
The group therefore charged the Catholic church and the people of Benue state not to accept President Buhari’s condolence massage because he hypocritically exempted Fulani herdsmen and Muslims from the gruesome murder of followers of Jesus Christ, because he claimed in his condolence massage that it was done by gunmen.
MASSOB also described the present administration as a huge and monumental failure which can never be redeemed again.