Presidency: More People Killed Under PDP Than Now

The Presidency has once again defended President Muhammadu Buhari-led government over the spate of killings across the country.

In a statement on Thursday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said more deaths were recorded in the country during the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Adesina, in a statement tagged “Plateau and PDP’s Crocodile Tears”, accused the PDP of playing irresponsible politics in the recent killings in Plateau State.

Suspected herdsmen butchered scores of people across communities of Razat, Ruku, Nyarr, Kura and Gana-Ropp villages of Gashish District in Barkin Ladi Local Government.

Police confirmed 135 deaths, but several reports put the casualties well above 250, in the attacks which occurred on Saturday through Sunday.

Following the sad incident, the PDP declared seven days of mourning, during which flags in its offices would be flown at half-mast nationwide.

But in the statement on Thursday, Adesina described the declaration by the opposition party as playing “cheap, infantile politics”.

“The comatose and prostrate party is declaring seven days of mourning, during which flags in its offices would be flown at half-mast nationwide. But unknown to the party, those flags had been forcefully lowered since its 2015 loss at the polls and may remain so for a long time to come, because Nigerians are politically discerning, and cannot be hoodwinked by cheap antics,” the presidential spokesman said.

Highlighting the deaths recorded under the PDP, Adesina said:

“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. No national mourning.

“Between February and May, 2000, about 5,000 people were killed during riots over Sharia law in different parts of the North. No national mourning.

“In 2001, hundreds of people, including the old, infirm, women and children were killed in Zaki Biam. No crocodile tears.

“Between September 7-12, 2001, Jos, Plateau State, erupted in internecine killings. Between 500 and 1,000 people were killed. Flags were not flown at half-mast.

“In February, 2004, at least 975 people were killed in Yelwa-Shendam, Plateau State. No mourning by the then ruling PDP.

“Between November 28 and 29, 2008, Jos was in flames again, with 381 deaths. No mourning.

“In 2010, 992 people killed in Jos. Mum was the word.

“In 2014 alone, according to Global Terrorism Index, at least 1,229 people were killed in the Middle Belt. No mourning.

“Boko Haram killings in PDP years were over 10,000. PDP flags were still fluttering proudly in the sky.”

Speaking further, Adesina said didn’t release the statement to mean more people were killed under PDP than under the current government, but to show that “wanton killings had been with us for a while.

“This government is working towards enduring solutions; and should be given the opportunity to do so,” the spokesman added.