Just do your job, PDP reiterates, as Presidency clarifies Buhari’s ‘surprise’ comments

The Presidency has clarified what President Muhammadu Buhari meant when he said he was surprised at the insecurity in the North-West.
But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party is unimpressed and continues to stress the nagging narrative, insisting that the President wakes up to the painfulcries of Nigerians for not keeping his eyes on the ball of insecurity.
Said Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina:”It has become compelling to react to a mischievous slant being given by both the traditional and social media to the comments of President Muhammadu Buhari on the security challenges in some parts of the country.
“On Monday, while hosting Eminent and Respected Citizens of Niger State at State House, Abuja, the President had said:
“I was taken aback by what is happening in the North West and other parts of the country. During our campaigns, we knew about the Boko Haram. What is coming now is surprising. It is not ethnicity or religion, rather it is one evil plan against the country.
“We have to be harder on them. One of the responsibilities of government is to provide security. If we don’t secure the country, we will not be able to manage the economy properly.”
“The reportage of the statement above was slanted to mean that President Buhari said he was unaware of the security challenges in some parts of the country. Far from it, except to the mischievous mind. The President is fully aware and fully in charge of all that is going on.
“The statement by the President was clear enough, and these are the salient points:
▪     In 2015, we knew there was Boko Haram insurgency, particularly in the North-east, and we mentioned it in our campaigns. There are clear economic and cultural factors behind the clashes that sadly rocked many of our communities, be they the Fulani-Tiv or Fulani-Berom conflict, the Tiv versus Jukun and so on. By now, these conflicts are fairly under control.
▪  By 2019, banditry had surfaced in the North-West. It was surprising, as the area is almost homogeneous, made up of Hausa-Fulanis.  The combatants are largely Muslim. This is what the President said he was surprised about.
▪       The point he made was that what is happening in the country is not about ethnicity or religion, it is plainly an evil plan against the nation.
“It is disingenuous that the earlier and latter parts of the statement were downplayed, and the middle part misinterpreted to mean that President Buhari was unaware or surprised by the security situation in the country.
“The traditional media, and commentators on social media, are encouraged to keep fidelity to the truth, and not concoct narratives to suit some sinister motives.
“It is all about our country, and deliberately misrepresenting the President hurts not just the country, but the mischief makers themselves, ultimately.
But the PDP say the Presidency should not politicize Nigerians concerns over insecurity and urged the National Assembly to stand with Nigerians.
It’s statement by national spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counsels agents of the Buhari Presidency not to attempt to politicise or trivialise demands by Nigerians for the resignation of its government as a response to its evident failure to guarantee security of lives and property in the country.
“The party states that the Buhari Presidency must accept this apolitical verdict, which transcends ethnic, political and religious boundaries, especially after President Muhammadu Buhari admitted failure by expressing “surprise” at the level of insecurity across the nation under its watch.
“The PDP notes that the fact that the Presidency resorted to hauling insults, hate language and threats against patriotic Nigerians, including senators, instead of addressing issues of security before the parliament, shows that indeed, the Buhari Presidency has no answer to the litany of insecurity issues under its administration.
“It is instructive for the Buhari Presidency to note that the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, whose voice resonated in the chamber of the Senate, spoke the mind of majority of Nigerians who had become bullied, harassed and despondent in the face of escalated insurgency, bloodletting, killings and other acts of violence that have pervaded our nation.
“Senator Abaribe spoke on behalf of millions of Nigerians who have been killed, orphaned, widowed, maimed, rendered childless and homeless, as well as others who daily live in anguish, pain and fear in the face of worsening insecurity under the failed Buhari administration.
“On account of this, the PDP counsels agents of the Buhari Presidency to perish any thoughts of harassment, setup, frame-up or victimisation of Senator Abaribe who rose to the occasion through the constitutionally guaranteed privilege of the parliament to speak on behalf of ordinary Nigerians.
“The PDP recalls that when President Buhari, in 2013, unjustifiably called for the resignation of then President Goodluck Jonathan, the Jonathan Presidency never resorted to insults and threats, even when such a call was completely unfounded, unlike in the present situation where every indicator points to an alarming trajectory towards a failed state.
“The PDP therefore urges the National Assembly to stand with Nigerians and resist every attempt that will make it succumb to any form of harassments, intimidations and innuendos from paid agents and cabal in the Presidency who have shown that the interest of ordinary Nigerians is not their priority.”