By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Democratic Front (TDF) has condemned what it says are attempts by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to shift the blame of insecurity in the country on President Bola Tinubu and his administration whereas it condoned terrorism by its inaction.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, the group maintained that PDP’s lackadaisical approach to security bred insecurity in the country.
The statement read in part: “Our memory is still very fresh on the incompetence, corruption and complacency of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the circumstances that birthed and incubated terrorism and other armed insurgency in Nigeria.
“History will not forget so soon how the PDP, as the ruling party, politicized national security and trivialized serious threats to the safety of lives and properties in the country.
“The mishandling of the arrest of the late Boko Haram leader Muhammed Yusuf, which led to his extra judicial death while in police custody, and the inexcusable failure on the part of the PDP-controlled federal government to nip the situation in the bud, by apprehending and prosecuting elements behind the murder were the remote causes that triggered a violent response that snowballed into what can be described as the most devastating armed insurgency against the sovereignty of Nigeria.
“We also recall that even when Boko Haram terrorists were hoisting their flags in Nigerian towns and villages, while abducting secondary school girls, the PDP remained in self-denial.
“Instead of deploying swift countermeasures to eliminate the terrorists, the PDP opted for indecent politics of blackmail and division to falsely accuse opposition politicians of sponsoring terrorism in the country.
“Nigeria’s Internal Security (IS) during the PDP era was so poorly managed and abused to the extent that on 27th April 2012, the then National Security Adviser (NSA), late Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi openly accused the PDP of being the sole sponsor of Boko Haram terrorists. In response, the late Gen. Azazi was removed as NSA by the PDP regime to hurriedly conceal the embarrassment of that shocking revelation to the nation.
“The most absurd and demoralizing failure of the PDP which robbed Nigeria of a permanent victory against Boko Haram in the early days of insurgency was the diversion of $2 billion meant for arms purchase.
“In contrast, we commend the decisive military action taken by President Bola Tinubu to neutralize the Lakurawa terrorists invasion in Kebbi State. We are convinced that if the PDP administration had done the same to Boko Haram terrorists in the early days of formation in Borno State, the insurgency would have long become history in Nigeria.
“The drastic reduction of kidnapping on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, coupled with the massive return of farming activities in Niger, Zamfara and Katsina States, clearly confirms that the Tinubu administration is on top of Nigeria’s security situation, despite prevailing challenges.”
TDF, therefore, urged Nigerians to ignore any attempt by PDP leaders to revise history on the security situation in the country.
