The Presidency has described the leading opposition party, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, as doing the work of the terrorists group, Boko Haram, in its criticism of the nomination of former service chiefs for ambassadorial posts.
PDP had alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari had nominated retired Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, retired Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, retired Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and retired AVM Mohammed Usman, for the posts in order to shield them from trial by the International Criminal Court, ICC.
But in its response by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Presidency declared that the PDP was engaging in the dirty job only Boko Haram would have done in the circumstance.
Said Shehu: “Pray, if a political party, in a blind search for power can spurn the interest of the nation, embrace the language of hate campaign against the country’s military as enunciated by the terrorists, as the PDP does, what will be left for the Boko Haram to do? PDP is doing Boko Haram’s work!”
The Presidency said having worked assiduously to defend the country against terrorists, it was necessary to compensate them to serve as encouragement to those who may be given a similar job to do in future.
“They should be allowed to move to the next level.
“This is so that their examples will help to inspire others if given the opportunity to serve,’’ Shehu said in the statement.
The statement reads in part: “But the newspapers and online media are full of pages of laughable criticisms of the President and former Service Chiefs by the party, the latest of which was the false claim that they were nominated as ambassadors so as to shield them from trial by the International Criminal Court, ICC.
“How on earth can decent people run down hardworking professionals who have put in their best to defend their country? How can you run down your country and equate that with normal political dialogue and opposition?
“What is baffling about this false and baseless assertion is that this is coming, not from Boko Haram terrorists who the military kept largely in check and confined to a known section of the country, Sambisa, but from a so-called leading opposition party that fraudulently kept power for 16 years and is nursing the hope of one day returning to office as an elected government.
“What is more, under these corrupt politicians the insurgency conquered large swathes of territory-18 Local Government Areas.
“Pray, if a political party, in a blind search for power can spurn the interest of the nation, embrace the language of hate campaign against the country’s military as enunciated by the terrorists, as the PDP does, what will be left for the Boko Haram to do? PDP is doing Boko Haram’s work!
“We live in an evidence-based era for arguments. If the PDP has evidence of rights abuse against the military in the war against terrorists, wouldn’t it be beneficial to the nation that they publish such evidence instead of levying grave accusations without proves?
“And to ask, in whose interest are they making these accusations that lack any depth?
“To add, we don’t think the ICC, which these childish calls are being made needs to be lectured on democratic values and human rights by the PDP.
“Who are they, and what is their record in office to lecture anyone? Zaki Biam and Odi where thousands of citizens were on record, the genocide operation comes to mind. Did they report themselves to the ICC?’’
