Shehu GarbaThe Presidency has advised Nigerians to ignore those it described as ethnic and sectional groups who assembled in Abuja recently to shed crocodile tears.
The Presidency insisted that they are selfish leaders, who felt alienated after a transparent and accountable system halted their disproportionate survival on resources of the state.
Referring to a communique issued by the leaders of some socio-cultural organizations led by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and some ethnic and sectional groups which accused the Muhammadu Buhari administration of incompetence in handling the security situation in the country, in a statement today, the Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu expressed worry on the “unholy alliance by these groups who are stepping up their assault on the All Progressives Congress administration as it expands its national dominance and moves closer to securing an outright victory in the elections next year.”
Garba Shehu said that the Presidency is dismayed at the refrain about President Buhari not doing anything about security in the country which he said, had now turned into the number one fake news item being peddled in the media.
The Presidency then referred all those it said are purveyors of falsehood to a State House press release published a few days ago and signed by Special Adviser on media and publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, which clearly outlined the government’s major achievements and initiatives in tackling security challenges from January to July, 2018.
“The press release which was titled: “Combating Insecurity in the Country: Lest We Forget – Presidency’’ listed out on going security operations: (1) Nigerian Army’s Exercise Ayem Akpatuma covering Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger States launched in February to tackle cases of kidnappings, herdsmen/farmers’ clashes, among others; (2) Nigerian Air Force establishment of three new Quick Response Wings (QRW) in Taraba, Nasarawa and Benue States respectively, and deployment of Special Forces personnel.
“The press release also noted President Buhari’s approval for the establishment of a new Battalion of the Nigerian Army, as well as a new Police Area Command, in Birnin Gwari Local Council in Kaduna State, as part of measures to scale up security in response to the banditry affecting the area.
“We advise Nigerians to read Adesina’s statement if they haven’t yet, or re-read it for better understanding of the efforts to ensure peace in the country.
“It is sad and misleading for anyone to say that President Buhari had not responded to the security challenges in the country.
“No one can honestly say that President Buhari is doing nothing about security. It’s just a fake news item being peddled by selfish politicians with vested interests in keeping Nigerians incensed, and it risks being entrenched as reality if we don’t educate ourselves with the truth.”
