By Tayo Joseph Lagos
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told the Presidency and the All
Progressives Congress (APC) to stop shedding crocodile tears and provide
answers to urgent questions surrounding the abduction of schoolgirls in
Dapchi, Yobe state.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola
Ologbondiyan, on Sunday, insisted that the Buhari Presidency has a lot
of questions to answer regarding the alleged compromising of security
around the area as well as the misleading reports that frustrated
immediate rescue of the abducted girls.
Nigerians have been in shock over revelations by the Yobe State
governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, that the abduction was preceded by
withdrawal of troops around Dapchi, thereby rendering the area
defenceless and paving the way for insurgents to attack and abduct our
girls.
We challenge the Presidency to come out clean on issues surrounding this
abduction. Who authorized the said withdrawal of troops from the area
and for what purpose? What alternative security measures were put in
place to protect the people after the troops were withdrawn? Who
controls security intelligence gathering and consequential protection
action and what action was taken to guarantee adequate security in the
area?
Furthermore, we charge the Federal Government to open up on who scripted
and released the false rescue report which frustrated prompt action
that would have led to the recovery of our innocent girls? Why was that
misleading report issued and whose interest did it serve?
Indeed, from all indications, every right thinking Nigerian has deduced
that there are more than meet the eyes in this ugly episode for which
those in authority have a lot of questions to answer.
We invite the world to note that after exposing the community to harm
and frustrating prompt rescue, the incompetent APC-controlled Federal
Government has not taken any concrete step to give the abductors the
desired chase to recover our girls.
Rather, they sent a delegation of persons with no knowledge of security
to Dapchi on fact-funding missions.
The PDP and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians are appalled by the
crocodile tears being shed by the incompetent and deceptive APC-Federal
Government instead of scaling up actions on the matter.
It is on this note that we call on our security agencies to stand up to
the challenge and do their professional best to ensure the safe return
of our girls.
The PDP stands in prayers with parents of our girls, the entire Dapchi
community and all victims of mindless atrocities against Nigerians under
the incompetent and deceptive APC-led Federal Government even as we
collectively seek solution at this trying time.
