The Congress for Progressive Change yesterday
(CPC) criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for not visiting Baga, Borno
State, where 200 people were reportedly killed and thousands of houses
burnt in an assault by the military as they went after Boko Haram insurgents
two weeks ago.
National publicity secretary of the party,
Rotimi Fashakin, said yesterday in a statement that the incident which
attracted the outrage of Nigerians and the International community should have
necessitated a visit by the president.
He added that the government has so far
shown more interest in controlling the information on the casualty figures than
in ensuring rehabilitation of the victims of the Baga disaster. “It is our
belief that the refusal of the President in visiting Baga does not only show
insensitivity but is a conduct that is not statesman-like for those that bear
presidential authority over a jurisdiction.
“The aloofness evinced by the President to the
plight of the Baga people, is in our opinion, an infraction of this relevant
provision of the Nigerian Constitution. We consider this conduct as very
unacceptable.”
The Special Adviser to the President,
Media & Publicity Reuben Abati in reaction yesterday said the CPC always
preferred to play to the gallery even when the occasion calls for maturity and
sobriety.
“The problem with them is that they
consider everything ‘very unacceptable’.
“President Jonathan has been very pro-active
in dealing with the Baga incident. He ordered an immediate probe by the
Military High Command and the intervention of rescue and aid agencies, who have
been working with the Borno state government and other agencies of state to
ensure that the victims are rehabilitated and assisted with relief
materials. These steps surely do not give an impression of insensitivity
or aloofness,” he said
Source:
Daily Trust
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