Buhari Justifies Belated Visit To Troubled States Against Backlash

Hamilton Nwosa
Writer
new-diplomat default image
new-diplomat default image

Ad

Peter Obi’s one-term Pledge, a Tactical Move to Win Northern Votes — Kenneth Okonkwo

By Obinna Uballa Opposition coalition member and former Labour Party chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that former Anambra State governor Mr Peter Obi’s promise to serve for just one term if elected president was a calculated political strategy aimed at securing votes from the North. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Okonkwo said…

BMW bets on innovation, rolls out strong brand to challenge Tesla, Chinese EV makers

By Obinna Uballa German automaker BMW is ramping up its focus on brand strength and advanced software as it prepares to roll out a new generation of electric vehicles, aiming to rival Elon Musk’s Tesla and fast-growing Chinese competitors. Speaking ahead of the Munich motor show next week, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse unveiled the company’s…

Atiku Warns: Nigeria is sliding into authoritarian rule under Tinubu’s Govt

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concern over what he described as Nigeria’s alarming slide into authoritarianism under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, Atiku pointed to a series of incidents in Kaduna, Katsina, and other states as evidence of an alleged coordinated effort to suppress dissent and…

Ad

…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:

https://twitter.com/OgbeniDipo/status/970752183196143616

https://twitter.com/GeneralDimka/status/970910263296831488

 

Ad

X whatsapp