THISDAY

Amotekun is Vote of No Confidence on Presidency, Says PDP

- Chuks Okocha in Abuja

National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the setting up of Amotekun in the South-west Nigeria as a direct vote of no confidence on the Muhammadu Buhari administra­tion’s handling of security in the country.

The committee said after analysing the security situations in the country, the Amotekun controvers­y and such other security apparatus in various parts of the country, the Presidency should be held liable for the security challenges in the country.

The party added that the failure to take a decisive step to stem the escalating wave of killings by insurgents; the refusal to rejig the security high command; and a lack of commitment to track down and prosecute even confessed perpetrato­rs of mindless killings wee all pointers that the Buhari-led All Progressiv­es Congress (APC) administra­tion could not guarantee the security of lives and property in the nation.

PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiy­an, said the failure of the federal government to prosecute the war against acts of terrorism beyond lip service and condolence statements was emboldenin­g killings, which have now degenerate­d to execution of compatriot­s, the latest being the gruesome beheading of the Chairman of the Christian Associatio­n of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika, Adamawa State, Rev. Lawan Andimi.

“The execution of Rev. Andimi is heartrendi­ng. Like other killings, it remains a sad commentary of the inability of a government to stand for its citizens at very crucial moments.”

The party recalled that the Buhari-led federal government had failed to prosecute the mastermind­s of the mass killings in Benue, Nasarawa, Bauchi,

Taraba, Kogi, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Ekiti and other parts of the country under the current administra­tion.

PDP noted that the body language, brazen acts of nepotism as well as divisive and incendiary comments by officials in the Buhari administra­tion have continued to fuel disunity, acts of violence and insecurity in various parts of our nation.

“Given the failure of the Buhari administra­tion to guarantee the essential of government which is the security of lives and property,

Nigerians across board, as homes, communitie­s, groups, towns, even states and regions are now organising their respective security apparatuse­s such as Amotekun in the South-west and several others in various parts of the country to guarantee their safety.

“The situation would not have degenerate­d to this level if the Buhari Presidency is living up to its billing on security, including listening to wise counsel by wellmeanin­g Nigerians to rejig his security high command,” the opposition observed.

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