PDP blames lockdown killings, brutalization on FG’s insensitivity

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the extra-judicial execution of a Nigerian by security operatives in Warri, Delta state, as the outcome of “gross insensitivity” which it noted has characterised the Buhari Presidency.

The party which also condemned reported brutalisation of Nigerians in many parts of the country by security forces under the guise of enforcing the lockdown order to check the spread of coronavirus lamented that the government had rejected wise counsels to provide adequate palliatives before the lockdown.

The party, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that such would have been averted “if the APC controlled Federal Government had heeded wise counsel and made adequate provisions for social palliatives to cushion the economic challenges of the lockdown. This government has failed to shelve its political interests and heed good suggestions to implement calls to cut taxes, reduce fuel price and use the states and local governments to channel essential commodities to poor Nigerians whose means of survival comes only from their daily struggle on the streets and markets.”

The PDP further blamed the APC and its administration for allegedly emboldening acts of violence and extra-judicial killings by security operatives following their failure to bring perpetrators of such acts to book as even detailed in reports by various reputable organizations including Amnesty International (AI), Transparency International (TI), European Union (EU) and the United States Department of State.”

“This is in addition to APC’s tacit endorsement of President Buhari’s usual directive to security operatives to “deal ruthlessly with” sundry offenders. Such statement is capable of being translated as license for cruelty and abuse of human rights by over-zealous security operatives.” The PDP invited Nigerians to note how the APC has remained silent and failed to join in the call for provision of adequate social palliatives to the citizens as well as in demanding that killers be brought to book.

The PDP said it stands with Nigerians and called on the Military High Command to commence an extensive investigation into the Warri killing as well as other reported brutalization of Nigerians and bring all the culprits to book.