Insecurity: Attack on northern elders infantile- South-West PDP

Insecurity: Attack on northern elders infantile- South-West PDP

By Dapo Falade

The South-West zonal chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has
condemned the attack by the presidency on the leadership of the Northern Elders’ Forum, describing it as infantile, irresponsible and petty.
The forum had, yesterday, chided the President Muhammadu Buhari – led Federal Government, accusing the president of having failed to address the increasing insecurity, especially in the northern part of the country.
NEF, in a statement signed by its vonvener, Professor Ango Abdullahi, alleged that the insecurity in some northern states was an indication that the president and governors of the affected states have lost control over the protection of the people, which is their constitutional duty.
The presidency, in another statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, dismissed the forum as a mere featherweight group without credible leadership and led by a General without troops.
Reacting, however, the PDP, in a statement issued by its South-West zonal publicity secretary, Ayo Fadaka, commended the NEF for its timely warning against the sad reality that the northern part of the country had been taken over by sundry bandit groups.
The party further said the bandits have been killing and maiming across the region, adding: “This sore development indeed remains the greatest challenge to the peace and stability of our nation and thus we commend NEF for, at least, raising its voice in the interest of the nation.
“The peace and tranquility that was almost prevalent in the pre-President Buhari years have been shattered and, most irresponsibly, the Federal Government remains bereft of a cogent response to this grave development.”
The party also condemned the response of the presidency to the warning by the forum on the state of insecurity, saying the verbal attack of the president’s media on the northern elders was” infantile, irresponsible and petty.
“It is a common knowledge and a source of concern to an average Nigerian that our nation is in a decline, requiring urgent attention which President Buhari is obviously incapable to proffer.
“For us in the South West PDP, we are very disturbed at the state of affairs in the northern states and apprehensive of the consequences of this degeneracy and we are therefore mindful of its spillover effects in our region.
“We boldly declare that our compatriots in the North deserve peace and security. Thus President Buhari must realise that being addressed as Commander-in-Chief comes with responsibilities that must ensure that all Nigerians can sleep with their eyes closed and not unnecessarily apprehensive of possible dangers.
“The time to act is now! The reaction of the presidency to the Northern Elders’ Forum clearly indicate that there exist a bad blood between them.
“However, we want to declare that the warnings, comments and alarm contained in that statement is indeed a true picture of developments in the North. A stitch in time, as they say, saves nine. Mr President must be ready to act or quit.”