Garba Shehu, presidential
spokesman, has questioned the integrity of Oby Ezekwesili, co-convener of the
Bring Back Our Girls Movement (BBOG), as a social crusader and rights activist.
In a statement issued on
Thursday, Shehu wondered why Ezekwesilii was “timidly silent” over the
“lawlessness” of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) but found the voice to
condemn the activities of the army in Abia state.
He was speaking in reaction to
Ezekwesili’s warning to President Muhammadu Buhari not to alienate the
entire Igbo race through the ongoing Operation Python Dance II in the
region.
He told the former minister that
she has a moral and patriotic duty not to back any group that seems determined
to pursue its separatist agitation through “reckless and destructive methods”.
He said: “While it is convenient
for the civil society activist to condemn the military and the government of
President Buhari, Mrs Ezekwesili didn’t find it appropriate, even once, to
criticise the dangerous and violent propaganda being propagated by the IPOB
leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Oby, as they call her, tweets on everything. Why was she
silent on this one?”
Shehu wondered why Ezekwesili
“retreated to the background or lost her voice while IPOB supporters were
violently molesting, attacking and jeopardising the lives of indigenes and
non-indigenes.
“Her hypocritical and timid
silence, while Kanu’s IPOB supporters were engaged in lawlessness and
recklessness in violation of his bail conditions, is a burden on her
credibility as a national crusader who should be courageous to condemn
criminality.
“This art of using a raincoat
while taking a bath is nothing short of self-deceit.
“Seeking to make political
capital out of a chaotic situation is highly unbecoming of her and of the
reputation she has worked hard to build over the years.”
He added that it is “ridiculous”
to accuse the president of sending soldiers to the south-east because he hates
the Igbo, saying the Buhari-led administration “respects all citizens and will
ensure that they are safe and secure wherever they reside”.
While condemning reported
“indefensible and reckless” attack on soldiers and policemen by IPOB members,
Shehu urged Ezekwesili not to “elevate mobs to the status of rock stars for the
sake of playing to the gallery”.
He said: “There is a deliberate
sinister agenda by IPOB to provoke the soldiers into killing innocent people in
retaliation so that Nnamdi Kanu would use the pictures of the victims for
international propaganda by accusing the government of ethnic cleansing against
the Igbos with the sole purpose of gaining sympathy.”
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Shehu, you just confirmed that FG ordered the army, police and DSS to invade Nnamdi Kanu's home, privacy and fundamental human rights. The team reportedly abducted parents, siblings and others. In this case it is the FG that's lawless. Get that clear.
ReplyDeleteIpob means no harm to the citizens lives.
ReplyDeleteGarba shehu has no integrity, he is a political jobber and a praise singer.
ReplyDeleteGarba shehu has no integrity, he is a political jobber and a praise singer.
ReplyDelete