The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of engaging in “blood business” with bandits and terrorists.
The PDP made the claim in a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, on Friday in reaction to the release of the 344 students abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, by bandits last Friday.
According to the major opposition party, the comments by the APC in a Thursday condemning the #BringBackOurBoys protests by members of the PDP shows that the ruling party and the Federal Government are ready to hobnob with criminal elements rather than deal with them.
The statement partly read: “The PDP says such revelations further explain why the APC has been acting as the mouthpiece of bandits, rationalizing killings and kidnapping, showing express sympathy to terrorists, refusing to condemn acts of terrorism but attacking any person or groups that dare to criticize the activities of these bandits or demand unconditional release of abductees.
“Indeed, the Thursday’s statement by the Governor Mai Buni-led leadership of the APC, in which it showed support to bandits by condemning genuine protest by Nigerian women and youth in Abuja, has further betrayed the APC as a party that has vested interest in the proceeds of these reprehensible enterprises.
“Moreover, the statement credited to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, wherein he attempted to rationalize the abduction of the 600 students as a normal occurrence in other parts of the world, validates apprehensions of high-level conspiracy against helpless Nigerians.”
The PDP wondered why the APC-led Federal Government purportedly supports criminal elements by criticising individuals or groups who criticise the actions of terrorists and/or bandits.
It claimed that the statement by President Muhammadu Buhari that the Federal Government reportedly settled the bandits who abducted the students is a clear indicator that the current administration condones the action of criminals.
The statement read: “Why is the APC not always forthcoming in condemning acts of terrorism and banditry but only issuing lame and patronizing press statements after being prodded and called-out by well-meaning Nigerians including the PDP?
“Furthermore, why is the APC and its administration always attacking any person or groups who condemns acts of terrorism or make suggestions on how to vanquish the terrorists?
“What is APC and its leaders gaining from the activities of bandits, terrorists, vandals and kidnappers, that they now act as if they are sureties for these assailants?
“Why has APC refused to account for the political mercenaries it imported from Niger Republic and Chad to unleash violence during the 2019 elections as well as come clean on allegations that they are these crops of people are unleashing their anger on the nation following the failure of the APC to settle them?
“This is particularly against the backdrop of reported declaration by President Buhari that the abductors and tormentors of our 600 traumatized and brutalized students were rather ‘settled’; a statement that does not only confirm that the Buhari Presidency cannot combat terrorists but also explains why banditry, kidnapping and acts of terrorism have become a thriving bloody business under the APC.”
The PDP alleged that the APC’s sympathy for acts of terrorism had led to escalated attacks on our compatriots in the last five years.
The major opposition party called on Nigerians to hold the APC responsible for the escalated act of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism ravaging our nation.
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