The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed its profound dismay over the recent tragic events in Plateau State, where over 160 innocent Nigerians lost their lives in coordinated attacks on 20 communities during the Christmas eve.
The party has described the reports of the merciless murder and displacement of over 10,000 individuals in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi areas as deeply distressing.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP attributed the escalating violence and security challenges to what it perceives as the lackadaisical and insensitive approach of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government.
The party contended that this approach had emboldened terrorists and bandits, resulting in a devastating toll of over 5,000 lives lost since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.
Critically appraising President Tinubu’s response, the PDP criticized what it deemed as a passive stance, emphasizing that mere presidential condemnations without decisive actions had left Nigerians vulnerable to incessant attacks.
The party asserted that President Tinubu had, in effect, neglected his constitutional duty as President and Commander-in-Chief, which chiefly involved ensuring the security of lives and property.
Recalling President Tinubu’s national broadcast on July 31, 2023, the PDP highlighted the absence of concrete commitments to addressing the security crisis despite the alarming death toll and abductions reported in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Kaduna, and other states.
The party decried the government’s apparent indifference to the findings of the 2023 Nigeria Security Report by Beacon Consulting, published in the December 13, 2023, edition of The Punch Newspapers, showing the grim statistics of 5,060 killed and 2,263 abducted since May 2023.
Expressing concerns about a potential genocide in Plateau State, the PDP insisted on holding the Tinubu-led APC administration accountable for the escalating violence.
Citing Section 14 (2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which mandates the government to prioritize the security and welfare of the people, the PDP called for an urgent legislative public inquest into the killings and the government’s response to insecurity.
The PDP further called upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) to initiate an independent investigation into the sponsors and perpetrators of what it described as an act of genocide.
“Special attention is urged for former and current leaders of the APC who have been implicated in encouraging, promoting, inciting, and endorsing acts of terrorism and genocide,” it said.
Against the backdrop of reports indicating over 63,000 Nigerians killed during the Buhari/Tinubu APC-led government, the PDP commended the courage of security personnel and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of victims. The party urges the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies to expedite support for those affected by the attacks.
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