The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Friday, in Abuja, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to provide convincing reasons to the public why the Nigerian soldiers are being killed frequently in the North East when his APC led federal government said it has all it takes to nip the situation in the bud.
Kola Ologbindiyan, National Publicity Secretary of the party, in a statement
specifically asked the President to explain why the government did not act before the killings, especially that of the over 70 soldiers of the 157 Task Force Battalion in Melete, Borno state, by invading insurgents, who reportedly sent a threat letter last Friday, to take over military locations in the area.
The PDP said its reaction to the incessant killing of soldiers is necessitated against the backdrop of earlier claims by the federal government that insurgents operating in the North East had been defeated.
The statement reads, “The party is very worried by reports of alleged compromises, neglect and inattention to military formations in the North East leading to the vulnerability of our beloved soldier.
“This is in addition to apprehensions by Nigerians that the Buhari Presidency has been distracting our military by dragging our Service Chiefs to participate in his re-election campaign activities, instead of concentrating on their statutory duties.
“The PDP however notes that it still has implicit faith in the Nigerian military and urged the Buhari Presidency to desist from acts that tend to whittle the proficiency and compromise the safety of our men and women who are daily risking their lives in defence of our nation.
“Our party, therefore, charges President Buhari to be alive to his responsibility as the Commander-in-Chief by immediately reviewing his parade to ensure greater professionalism and welfare of our officers and men.
“Finally, the PDP calls on Nigerians not to despair in the face of this ugly development but continue to join forces with our security agencies in the effort to cleanse our land of bandits, insurgents and marauders”.
