PDP, APC disagree on Danjuma’s outburst

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the call by General Danjuma urging Nigerians to defend themselves “is yet another testimony of the tragic situation which the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have dragged our nation”.

National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan said “Nigerians are now daily paying the supreme price because of the failures of a grossly incompetent leadership and a deceitful ruling party.

“The pronouncement, coming from an Army General, a former Chief of Army Staff and a former Defence Minister of Gen. Danjuma’s status, is weighty and directly reflects the ugly situation in the country under the APC”, the party added.

The PDP observed that with Nigerians now resorting to self-defence, it is a clear demonstration that Nigerians, across board have completely lost confidence in President Buhari and the APC.

“It is instructive to recall that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, both former military leaders, army generals and patriots, had earlier raised the issue of unabating bloodletting and pogrom in our country under the APC and the Buhari Presidency.

“Painfully, the APC-controlled Federal Government has not only failed in finding solution but is also contending with allegations of conspiracy and acts that are believed to have emboldened attacks against innocent Nigerians.

“Nigerians are no longer feeling secured in their land. Our country has, in close to three years, assumed a status of killing field where defenceless citizens are despoiled, raped and mowed by insurgents and marauders in Benue, Taraba, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Plateau, Nasarawa, Rivers, Enugu, Kogi among other states.

“Unfortunately, the Buhari-led APC federal government remains aloof and has failed to take decisive steps that will apprehend the masterminds of the carnage.

The PDP also rejected President Buhari’s threat of unleashing the security agencies on critics of the Armed Foces, describing it as undemocratic and completely unacceptable.

The party said, “The PDP, as a party, after a thorough review of all issues and the fact that nobody, apart from the President himself, politicized the Dapchi issue when he boasted that his response time was faster than that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, hold that President Buhari’s pronouncement on alleged politicization of security issues is targeted at emasculating opposition and those with contrary opinions to the views of the APC interests.

“The President’s statement completely betrays a dangerous political intolerance and utter disdain for the rule of law and constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and opinion of citizens in a democracy.”

But APC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi, said: “My take on it is very clear. He (Danjuma) accused the military of being partisan and I cannot comment on it because the military is more than capable of responding to that.

“But, my response on his call that people should take up arms and defend themselves is to say that such statement is very wrong.

“It is a call to anarchy and we are not in support of it. If the security forces are not doing well, we have the responsibility to call on them to do more.

“If we suspect that they have abandoned their roles, we have the responsibility to request more from them. But for him to tell people to take up arms and defend them is condemnable and a call to anarchy.

“We are not in support of it and I feel that someone of his calibre should not be making that kind of statement.”

Senator Shehu Sani in a post on his facebook page said: “Buhari has heard Danjuma’s Radio message. And I believe he has decoded the message.”

“The nation is tip toeing through a minefield; the two generals are experienced to know better that its fate lies in every step.”

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