…As PDP, Nigerians See Move As An Afterthought
By ‘Dotun Akintomide
President Muhammadu Buhari has said it is not in his habit to rush to visit violence ridden states, because he prefers to monitor developments first rather than “make noise.”
Buhari stated this while speaking in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, during his visit to assess the situation.
No fewer than 200 people are believed to have been killed in communal disputes and herders/farmers clashes in the state.
The local government areas worst hit by the herdsmen/farmers crisis are: Lau, Ibi, Gassol, Bali, Wukari, Takum and Sardauna, where scores were killed in renewed violence at the weekend.
“I am here (Taraba) to meet with the leadership of the state, to offer my condolences to those who lost loved ones and properties in violence.
“People, sometimes expect me to rush out to the fields, to go and make noise.
“But I have my ways of gathering intelligence. I get to know what is happening across the country without necessarily going to those areas.
“I will be going to Benue and Zamfara after I return from Ghana to also condole with the people,” Buhari said.
However, many including the Peoples Democratic Party are seeing the visits as a belated move and an attempt to salvage relationship with voters in the affected states with 2019 in sight.
This follows heavy criticisms that trailed President Buhari’s presence in Kano last weekend attending the wedding ceremony that took place between the son of Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi and the daughter of his Kano State counterpart, Abdullahi Ganduje.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP lamented the eleventh hour decision of the President to pay a condolence visit to the affected states after months of tragedy wrecked on them by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
“Many Nigerians have dismissed the planned visits of President Buhari to these states as cosmetic afterthought. Nigerians have already formed their opinion of him, and rightly so, as a President that has never shown them concern in their time of need.
“It is alarming that Mr. President will consider visiting some of these states months after marauders, insurgents and bandits committed their havocs. Mr. President has been in the country and never thought it necessary to pay a condolence visit to any of these states until Nigerians raised the alarm alleging a manifest indifference on his part.”
Some reactions on Twitter:
Buhari has visited Taraba. Okay. Call Wizkid, Davido and Tiwa Savage lets go and clap, dance and praise him for what he should have done ages ago.
— Dr. Dípò Awojide (@OgbeniDipo) March 5, 2018
Herdsmen/Farmers clashes: More people killed in Taraba than Benue, Zamfara -Buhari
The president of our nation is comparing casualty figures instead of doing what he was elected to do -protect lives and property.
— Adeyanju Deji 🇳🇬 (@adeyanjudeji) March 5, 2018
Buhari hurried to Taraba state with a hope that they will vote for him after killing them and when he return second terms he will wipe off Taraba, Benue, Enugu,and some other state, so he can install sharia. I called on the trouble state not to vote for him, they should be wise
— General Dimka (@GeneralDimka) March 6, 2018
President Buhari in a bid to save his sinking ambition will visit people of Benue, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
Buy yourselves brooms, wave it when he arrives your state in attempt to politicize your misfortunes and then sweep his feet off your streets immediately he leaves.
— Prince 'Yemi Adebowale 🦁 (@yemi_adebowale) March 5, 2018
Overwhelmed by our wailing, Femi Adesina has announced Buhari will now visit Taraba, Benue, Yobe, Zamfara & Rivers states.
Pls note that the 73 people killed in Benue were buried on the 11th of January nearly 2 months ago…but Buhari wants to go and do a spot assessment. 🤬
— Babasola Kuti (@SKSolaKuti) March 5, 2018
