The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the defeatist comments by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on national security, affirm the position of the PDP and millions of Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari failed in his duties as a Commander-In-Chief.
The party holds that the blame must be placed at the doorsteps of the President, who was under oath as the Commander-in- Chief, to ensure the security of lives and property, but had failed even in his own promise to lead from the front.
PDP in a statement said: “Mr. President, as chief security officer of the nation, should not hide under an Army Chief to push blames when he had failed to take appropriate steps to secure the nation and refused to heed wise counsel by well-meaning Nigerians to reorder his parade and rejig the nation’s security architecture for effectiveness.
“Instead, the Buhari Presidency had carried on with endless lip service, empty assurances, unnecessary blame game and obvious lack of tact, while the nation is being ravaged.
“There is no doubt that despite the cluelessness of the Buhari Presidency, our fighting troops have remained gallant, patriotic, making sacrifices and risking their lives in defending the country.
“One would expect that under the prevailing situation, a commander-in-chief should have risen up to the occasion, step up actions, resolve the issues and ensure that all efforts are galvanized to provide all necessary requirements for our troops combating insurgency and other acts of violence against our nation.
“The PDP therefore urges the military and our gallant fighting troops not to relent at this critical time, noting that Nigerians seriously appreciate the sacrifices they make in securing our dear nation”.
The party also calls on the National Assembly to save the situation by immediately using its legislative instruments to wade into the situation in the interest of the nation.