Atiku Abubakar, presidential
candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says President Muhammadu
Buhari has failed lift the morale of soldiers fighting Boko Haram insurgents.
In a statement on Wednesday,
Abubakar criticised Buhari over his absence at the funeral of five air force
officers who died in a helicopter crash while providing support to troops in
the north-east.
They were buried at the national
military cemetery in Abuja on Tuesday.
The former vice-president said
Buhari’s failure to attend the funeral is “part of a pattern of unpatriotic
behaviour demonstrated” by him.
“At a time when the morale of our
soldiers should be lifted up as they face the difficult task of defeating the
terrorists who are threatening our national security, I find it most
regrettable that President Muhammadu Buhari, despite being in Abuja, chose not
to attend the funeral of the five airforce officers who died in a helicopter
crash while prosecuting the war on terror,” he said in the statement.
“Last month, I had cause to
advise the President to find time to attend the funerals of the hero soldiers
of the 157 Taskforce Battalion in Metele, Borno state, who paid the supreme
price for Nigeria in large numbers.
“Sadly, due to reasons best known
to him, President Buhari chose not to attend their funeral, neither was he
represented by the vice-president nor any federal delegation. This was despite
the fact that the President had time to host Nollywood actors and actresses the
previous day. Imagine celebrating just before such a solemn event.
“The most recent funeral held in
Abuja, the President was in Abuja on the day of the funeral. The previous day,
he had inaugurated his re-election campaign council. My question for Mr.
President is this: is securing your second term, more important to you than
securing Nigeria?”
Abubakar urged Buhari to learn
from French President Emmanuel Macron, who on March 28, 2018, attended the
funeral of a French policeman killed by terrorists in Southern France.
“That single event boosted the
morale of the French security forces, because it showed a commitment to their
wellbeing and honour for their memory by the head of state. Very sadly,
President Buhari missed another opportunity to demonstrate such commitment to
our armed forces,” he said.
“Let me end this by commending
our military for their sacrificial efforts to secure all of us. You have my
full support and solidarity.”
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and attacking Buhari on daily basis is more important to you than planning how to win election?.
ReplyDeleteif u don't know what to do, resign to avoid disgrace.