•Blaming politicians, others unfair —ABC Nwosu
•Buhari not speaking the truth —Dan-Musa
•Govt has not shown seriousness — Tanko Yakassai
•Killings sponsored, Army Chief insists
By Henry Umoru, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Joseph Erunke, Johnbosco Agbakwuru and Omezia Ajayi
Claims by the presidency that politicians were culpable in the recent wave of killings in the country have been rebuffed by political actors and many Nigerians who have dared the administration to name politicians involved in the killings.
Politicians drawn from various parties were joined by lawyers to denounce the claim as diversionary and admission of failure on the part of the administration.
President Muhammadu Buhari had, following last weekend killings in Plateau State, accused the political class of taking opportunity of the differences between farmers and herders to bring the administration to its knees.
The President’s claim was followed by a statement on Thursday by the presidency in which it implied that the killings that occurred during the 16- year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP were more than what is being experienced.
There was, however, an exception to the trend of condemnation from the Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani who said the administration may have had its facts before making the assertions.
Among those who reacted were a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Mike Ozekhome; former ministers including, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, members of the National Assembly, and other political actors.
“I consider President’s statement as unfortunate” —Ahamba
Also responding, President Buhari’s one time lawyer, Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, described the assertion as unfortunate. He said: “It is very unfortunate. Being a very major associate of the President for more than eight years, I consider that statement most unfortunate.
“The President is saying it is by politicians while the Chairman of Miyettti Allah is saying it is a reprisal for cattle rustling, not even cattle killing. I am very disappointed with that statement.
“I have said that some people are engaged in territorial cleansing. This is my personal belief and I may be wrong. From my own objective appraisal, some people are after territory.
“When I made a statement in 2009 that Boko Haram was after territories not after Christians or Muslims, nobody believed me. I have the same feeling. How can you say that people are killed because of cattle rustling and you go and kill babies? Are the babies also rustling cattle? Even if they had killed cattle, where are the dead animals?
“It is unfortunate indeed. Not so long Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State unfortunately made a statement a few months ago that the killings that happened in Benue State were a result of the Anti-Open Grazing law. Did he make such law in his state to have warranted the killings?
“People should be careful when they speak, they should be circumspect about what they say.”Click to continue reading
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