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 wave of
violence ravaging some northern states of the country.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Monday
said the memory of Nigerians is not short on the body language and
inciting utterances of APC leaders, including their Presidential
candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, which 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 in turning round to blame the
PDP, the APC is asking Nigerians to suddenly grow forgetful of the
barrage of statements by their leaders that promoted insurgency in the
country.
The party observed that whereas a statesmanly statement from a person of
General Buhari’s age and status could have helped douse the tension in
the land, the APC flag bearer chose incendiary remarks, which emboldened
insurgents, apparently in keeping with the agenda of his party to
achieve political control through violence.
The PDP compared the attitude of APC leaders on insurgency to the
metaphor of a young man sent on a criminal mission by the father, whose
boldness knows no bounds.
“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.
“Attesting that penchant for violence flows in the portal vein of the
rank and file of the APC, Buhari’s Man-Friday and former FCT Minister,
Malam Nasir El-Rufai in his capacity then as APC Deputy National
Secretary, in January 2014, told the whole world that ‘the next election
is likely to be violent and many people are likely going to die. And the
only alternative left to get power is to take it by force; this is the
reality on ground.’
“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
after they lose in 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
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