Osinbajo’s Kidnapping Comment Proves Buhari Govt ‘Uncaring, Insensitive’ – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, over remarks he recently made concerning the insecurity the country.

Osinbajo had during his meeting with the Nigerian community in the United States on Tuesday said, “With respect to general kidnapping which we have seen in parts of the country, again, this is not entirely new. In fact, some of the kidnapping stories you read or listen to are simply not true anywhere, some are fueled by politics.”

The comment generated a lot of reactions and had since attracted some backlash for the Vice President, with the Afenifere socio-political group describing the remark as “scandalised” and “provocative”.

In its reaction, however, the opposition PDP said “the reckless dismissal of the alarming spate of kidnapping in the country by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo further confirms that the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration has no iota of concern towards the pain and suffering of Nigerians.”

Speaking in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said “by attempting to play down on the menace as not being “as massive as that”, Prof. Osinbajo clearly demonstrates that the APC and its government are not connected with the people but only pretends towards them during electioneering.”

It further said, “In dismissing the security problem, the Vice President is simply telling victims of kidnapping that as far as the APC and its administration are concerned, they have not suffered enough.

“Such anti-people disposition, as being witnessed under the APC, can only come from an uncaring and insensitive administration that does not have the mandate of the people.

“It is therefore unfortunate that instead of being remorseful and seeking solutions, Prof. Osinbajo is rather playing on the sensibility of Nigerians by attempting to justify his comment, which has been widely condemned by citizens from all walks of life.

“Prof. Osinbajo has only succeeded in showcasing President Buhari’s incompetence and failure in securing the nation. He has also ridiculed his office in the eye of the international community, who is well aware of the gravity of kidnapping and other security challenges confronting our nation.

“What has Prof. Osinbajo said to the families whose breadwinners have been killed by kidnappers and many more who are still languishing in kidnappers den?

“When will the problem of kidnapping  become “massive” for the APC administration when medical doctors, community heads, faith-based leaders, government officials and their relations, students, innocent school children, pregnant women and even expatriates are being kidnapped in various parts of the country?

“While our party and indeed millions of Nigerians appreciate the efforts by our security operatives in fighting this menace, despite the operational challenges imposed on them by the incompetent APC administration, the PDP insists that President Buhari must bear the blame for the persistence of the security problems.

“This is the reason Nigerians, at the 2019 general election, preferred a more capable and patriotic leader in Atiku Abubakar, who had already set out an operable blueprint to frontally confront and address the security challenges facing our nation without resorting to unnecessary blame game,” said the opposition party.

THE WHISTLER earlier reported that the Afenifere group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to step down from his position as the grand patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), saying his leadership of the herders group has made it difficult for security operatives in the country to go after alleged criminals in the group who distort the country’s peace.