The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has taken President Muhammadu Buhari to task over his comments that anger, frustration and disenchantment among the youth was responsible for the escalation of kidnapping, abduction and other crimes in the country.
In a statement Tuesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the President’s comment was a direct admission of his failure in governance.
The party stated that the comment also confirmed that President Buhari was aware that Nigerian youths did not vote for him in the February 23 presidential election.
The statement said, “This self-confession by Mr. President is equally an admission that he has no solutions, and points to the ugly situation that would continue to confront the nation, if the stolen presidential mandate is not retrieved in the courts.
“Is it not appalling that at a time when other world leaders are leading their youths to constructive and productive ventures and developing their nations, Nigerian youths are being pushed into situations of anger, frustration and recourse to criminality?”
Under President Buhari, our national economy has continued to slide; over 30 million Nigerians have lost their jobs and basic means of livelihood; businesses have continued to shut down; cost of essential goods and services have persistently soared, while purchasing power of citizens worsens.
“It is more disheartening that instead of finding solutions, Mr. President resorted to rhetoric and begging the question to the extent of describing criminality as a new occupation and a business”.
The main opposition party said Nigerians were shocked at President Buhari’s “insensitivity” to the victims of the bloodlettings, kidnapping, banditry and other acts of violence in the country.
The party considered the President’s joke where he joked that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu’s weight loss was an indication that the police chief was effectively tackling security situation in the country.
“It is most heartbreaking that at the time President Buhari was making a joke on the security situation, bandits were having a field day in communities in Zamfara State where they reportedly killed over 50 Nigerians, while many more compatriots are still held hostage by kidnappers in forests in various parts of our country.
“Such attitude to governance, especially on issues that have to do with the lives of Nigerians, is completely unacceptable and must be condemned by all,” the statement added.
