#PlateauKillings: Presidency, opposition shamelessly gloat at the expense of innocent lives
Whenever tragedy happens in Nigeria, the opposition finds it a good opportunity to gloat and blame the incumbent, while the latter also takes the bait – not minding the effect of such losses on victims’ families.
One of such disgraceful scenarios has played out yet again, as the presidency and opposition party PDP have shamefully engaged in blame game over herdsmen killings in Plateau State.
After over a 100 persons were gruesomely murdered in what has been termed a longstanding farmers and herders’ clash in the state, PDP thought to declare a 7-day mourning for victims.
President Buhari’s government has quickly taken the bait, choosing to irresponsibly highlight the number of innocent lives supposedly lost while the opposition party was in power.
Buhari’s mouthpiece on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, released the following statement on Thursday:
“These are dolorous times that call for deep introspection on how cheap human lives have become, and the proffering of actionable ideas on how to get out of the bind.
“But the PDP would rather dance on the graves of the dead. A quick checklist of some savage and brutal killings in Nigeria during PDP rule, between 1999 and 2015, for which no national mourning was declared:
“November 20, 1999. Odi, in Bayelsa State, was invaded on orders of a PDP President. About 2,500 people killed.
“Between February and May 2000, about 5,000 people were killed during riots over Sharia law in different parts of the North.
“In 2001, hundreds of people, including the old, infirm, women and children were killed in Zaki Biam.
“Between September 7-12, 2001, Jos erupted in internecine killings. Between 500 and 1,000 people were killed.
“In February 2004, at least 975 people were killed in Yelwa-Shendam, Plateau State.
“Between November 28 and 29, 2008, Jos was in flames again, with 381 deaths.
“In 2010, 992 people killed in Jos. In 2014 alone, according to Global Terrorism Index, at least 1,229 people were killed in the Middle Belt.
“Boko Haram killings in PDP years were over 10,000, yet they never declared national mourning.
“Those who take pleasure in twisting statements from the Presidency may claim we are saying that many more people were killed under PDP. It would be unconscionable to do so.
“Even a single soul is precious, and no man should take a life. But when tragic situations as had happened in Plateau State occur, such should never be used to play crude politics.”
It reeks of sheer hypocrisy that Adesina’s statement aimed to condemn the opposition’s attempt to politicise the killings across the country, while playing in same muddy waters.
The opposition, Mr Adesina, and his employers, seriously need to keep shut, because the mindless killings which successive governments have refused to find lasting solutions to have created wounds that are yet to heal on victims’ families. And the last thing they deserve from the people that are failing in their duty to protect them is to remind them that their country has failed them woefully.
