PDP using Boko Haram to secure chances in 2015 polls –APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)–led Federal Government of deliberately handling the insurgency in the northern part of the country with a view to enhancing its profile in the 2015 elections.

Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the allegations in an interview with journalists in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State said recent statements credited to the leadership of the PDP and the actions of President Goodluck Jonathan were enough to convince members of the opposition that the ruling party is not telling all it knows about the insurgency which has rendered the economy of  the North comatose.

Mohammed, who spoke after participating in the dedication of a multi-million naira St Andrews Cathedral built by the Catholic Church in the community, lamented that the incumbent administration has brought religion into the forefront of political agitation in the country contrary to efforts by past leaders to ensure the integration of Nigerians irrespective of religion and ethnicity.

His words: “It is worrisome going by the statement credited to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio to the effect that President Goodluck Jonathan should sack the three governors of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, not for any reason but because it will give the PDP an advantage towards 2015.

“That again gives us concern that probably the manner the government has been handling the Boko Haram insurgency has been with a view to secure chances in 2015 elections. That will be very sad, because I know that our party had severally warned that nobody should politicise, ethnicise or regionalise the issue as it is a national issue. It is even becoming a global issue. We should all be sincere in our approach to it.

“Even the reaction of President Jonathan does not portray him as somebody who is genuinely concerned about the plight of Nigerians. Otherwise, 24 hours after the Nyanya bomb blasts, he would not leave Abuja to go and be dancing in Kano or leave for Olubadan’s centenary when we had over 75 people roasted alive.”

“This government has now brought religion and ethnicity to the forefront. It is very sad and it pains me when Nigerians take hook, line and sinker, accusation from the PDP that APC is behind the religious uprising. What would APC gain from destroying the economy of these states. Each of these governors in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe is spending so much money which ought to go to infrastructural development on security. They have had their entire economies destroyed. There are over 10,000 widows in those three states, there are 201 schools destroyed in Yobe and 800 classrooms destroyed in Borno.

“I would have been sensible if Boko Haram were creation of APC and it is attacking PDP states. What is the information that Olisha Metus has that the National Security Adviser does not have? If it is true we are behind the Boko Haram, why can’t you arrest and prosecute us? Not too long ago the president himself admitted that his government was infiltrated by Boko Haram. The late security adviser, General Azazi said the Boko Haram problem stemed from inequity and injustice in PDP.
“What is happening in Nigeria today is simply failure of government.  What happened in Nyanya was failure of intelligence and it is a combination of corruption and incompetence. How can government tell us they spent N86 billion to install closed circuits cameras (CCTV) in Abuja and yet none is working today? If that money had been truly spent we would have had footage of what happened in Nyanya. Is the Federal Government really telling us what they know about Boko Haram. We suspect the government is trying to make political benefits out of the lives of our people.
“We have offered them our hands of cooperation. The latest we suggested is a national summit on security. Government should urgently convoke a national summit on security. This is different from the ongoing national confab.  However, the insincerity of government is worrying to us.”
He also dismissed claims that the APC was behind the violence in the north, daring the government to arrest any member of the party if feels is so responsible.
He said: “It is quite reckless and unfortunate that anybody without any proof will come and make such senseless accusation. Who are our leaders they are accusing of supporting Boko Haram? Who are our leaders that you are accusing of been fanatical muslims? They will mention Buhari. Unfortunately for many Nigerians, we are ruled by emotion not by fact. In 1983 December when Buhari came to power he had a muslim second in command, Tunde Idiagbon, yet Buhari refused to drag Nigerians to OIC.
“Is there any further that this is a man that believes that Nigeria should not be divided on the ground of religion. Why have Nigerians forgotten this? Nigerians have also forgotten that our forefathers, our former  leaders ran away from everything that will divide us especially in terms religion and ethnicity? That was one of the reasons why the NYSC was introduced to forge unity among Nigerians. One of the reasons why the Federal Character Commission was introduced and made part of the constitution was to ensure that in spite of our differences there is balanced and equity.”
Ends.