Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, said this in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.
Barely 24 hours after a bomb explosion killed 75 people in Nyanya, a satellite town in Abuja, Jonathan had led party chiefs to Kano where they received former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, who recently defected to the party.
The development drew the ire of many Nigerians, including the All Progressives Congress who accused the President of being insensitive.
But Maku said the President’s critics were not fair in their judgment.
He recalled that Jonathan had on the day of the incident called off his planned trip to Ibadan for the centenary birthday of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Odulana Odugade.
He added that the President visited the scene of the incident personally to assess the situation.
He argued that Jonathan himself had suffered psychologically by the acts which he claimed was meant to demoralise and destabilise the government.
The minister argued that terrorists would continue to unleash violence on the country once they know that government stops working any time they strike.
He urged politicians to stop exploiting the nation’s darkest moment to score cheap political points.
He said, “You will notice that whenever there is any significant story, something will just come negatively. So the purpose is to demoralise, disrupt government, society and to set people against each other and create paralysis.
“So if we are to say we will do nothing because of the strike, then it means that terrorists would have successes in putting a stall each time they strike on our country.
“Going to Kano was a loud statement that terrorists will not stop this country from moving and from working.
“On the day it happened, the President had already suspended all his activities and focused on it. Politicians will still want to exploit even the most dark moment for political advantage and this is what we should not do.
“We should not be exploiting the emotions of citizens for cheap political points. People will use everything including murder, including trauma like what we have gone through to score cheap political points and this is really very sad.
“Politicians must not exploit the suffering of people just to score cheap political points.
“The President is mourning and is already working with everybody and with every institution to ensure that we not only meet the needs of the living and care for those who have survived but continuously work to perfect our security architecture to ensure greater safety of Nigerians.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Of course not but they can stop you from celebrating your independence day at eagles square, and they can strike fear into your heart (with all the security apparatus at your disposal) to the extent of avoiding trouble state but they can not stop you from making merriment/welcoming one insignificant individual or group of looters?
ReplyDeleteEither APC or PDP or anybody behind all devilsh act should know that their day are numbers
Maku!!! What if your child was among the dead, would you mourn him for just less than 24hours? God will catch up with u.
ReplyDeleteNo he should sitdown at home be crying useless people instead of blamaing the people who are tarnishing the image of the country bcs of their own selfish intrest u are blaming the president
ReplyDeleteNigerians want the government to mourn for how long? 2 days, 1 week, a month? That is exactly the aim of the terrorists. To keep us in perpetual mourning. The president visited the scene immediately and went to the hospital to see the victims. Should he coil to the villa in fear of the cowards who attack innocent people and can't show their faces? Nonsense! They are the ones will be visited with eternal mourning in Jesus Name! And all their supporters everywhere.
ReplyDeleteif u guys blame from today till tomorrow,i guess noting will change for better. All we should be praying for is divine mercy frm d most high.
ReplyDeleteWe cant blame criminals, rather blame weak unfocussed govt that cannot enforce law and order "with all the security apparatus at their disposal"
ReplyDeletemaku, pls take a turn and reconsider some of ur statements. was ur bauchi rally and other recent rallies marked with prior violence. the answer is no. no probs. it's only God the perfect judge that will judge all.
ReplyDeleteIf the President's daughter or Maku's daughter or child was among the dead, then the President and Maku would run to Kano to dance for the Terrorists. That is the stock in trade of politicians especially PDP calling BLACK WHITE and calling WHITE BLACK. The security in the country is porous. While the terrorists are causing havoc PDP is busy with its campaign.
ReplyDeleteThey want power by all means. All these u see happening is to discredit this government. lets have a balance view. They said they are born to rule". Nigeria belong to them.
ReplyDeleteright now our leaders are not feeling d pains of nigerians who have lost thier loved ones due to the insensitivity of our leaders. i know that one of our leaders family member will soon be involved in the next bomb blast then they will know how it feels and then it will all come to an end
ReplyDeleteThe image of the President dancing his heart out in Kano, a day after this tragic incident is a bad one for the President and for the country. When you contrast that with the picture of some foreign dignitaries donating blood for the victims, you will clearly see why the President and his advisers are nothing but a bunch of foolish people. PDP must go, come next year, otherwise Nigerians should blame themselves for the country's woes.
ReplyDelete