Pages

Friday, May 18, 2012

South-East PDP blasts Buhari

THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South East zone, yesterday, joined other Nigerians in condemning recent comments by former military head of state, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, in which he threatened bloodshed if the 2015 elections were rigged, saying his statement was “incendiary and bereft of patriotic intent.”

A statement by the National Vice Chairman of PDP in the zone, Col Austin Akobundu (rtd), applauded the prompt response from the Presidency and the party to Gen Buhari’s unfortunate outbursts.
It also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for showing restraint against the heckling of opposition politicians aimed at distracting him from prosecuting his transformation agenda.
The party said Gen Buhari’s unwarranted and provocative statement was capable of inciting more violence in a country already racked by serious security challenges.

The statement read: “We in the South East have good reason to be apprehensive anytime political leaders try to stoke up sectarian violence through inflammatory speech. Given our bitter experience, those who employ violence to serve political ends are never caught in the crossfire.
“Their victims, regrettably, have mainly been south easterners, youth corps members, church worshippers, business people or innocent bystanders.

“We call on our political leaders to guard their utterances and eliminate the rhetoric of violence from their repertoire, so that peace will reign. We need peace for development and progress.
“The South East PDP leader advised General Buhari to continue to lend his voice to matters of national importance but should do so with the measured tact of an elder statesman.

“Politics apart, it is impolitic for a person of his stately standing and someone who has fought for the unity of this country to descend into the arena of tendentious demagogy.”
The party, however, noted that since the 2011 elections were over, everyone must now join hands with the man who won the popular vote, President Jonathan, to move the country forward.

No comments:

Post a Comment