President Muhammadu Buhari has been chastised by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for ‘refusing’ to show empathy to the plight of Nigerians by paying a visit to Benue State to condole with victims of the horrific killing by Fulani herdsmen.
The former ruling party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on Sunday, said the “refusal” of the President to visit Benue was an indication of his “insensitivity.”
Ologbodiyan said PDP was worried that the President was busy receiving some governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress when tens of people were being buried in Benue State.
It will be recalled that Benue State on Thursday buried over 73 persons killed by the marauders.
A day after the burial, seven APC governors visited President Buhari at the Villa and asked him to contest in 2019.
Ologbondiyan said, “It is very sad to note that in its insensitivity, the Federal Government did not consider it important to send a delegation to the burial of those massacred in Benue and till date, there has been no Presidential visit of any sort to commiserate with the people of Benue and other states where Nigerians are being slaughtered by bandits under the APC regime.
“The PDP is worried that while innocent Nigerians were still being slaughtered and families crying out for help, the President was busy receiving APC governors on orchestrated self-serving visit to Aso Rock to endorse his personal ambition for a second tenure; a time when a soothing word and practical action from his Presidency would have helped ease the pain and reassure the people.
“While we painfully note the failure of the Buhari-led Government to provide adequate security in the endangered areas despite early warning signs, his failure to visit Benue speaks volumes.
“Indeed, such a disposition is believed to be emboldening the marauders to continue their killing spree, divide and further plunge the nation into turmoil like the attacks in Kaduna, Taraba, Adamawa and other states.”
Packaged by Alice Egbedele
