Atiku politicizing national grief at detriment of military, citizens’ resilience against terrorism – Group
The Democratic Front (TDF) has condemned what it described as the insensitivity and l
disrespect by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the memory of victims of terrorism and the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes in the ongoing war against insecurity in the country
This emerged the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) made claims of 5,091 deaths in the past three months in terrorism-related killings.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary Wale Adedayo, TDF accused former Vice President Atiku of weaponizing the national grief over victims of terror attacks.
It said: “We find it absurd, reckless and utterly irresponsible of the former Vice President, who is also the presidential candidate of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), to mischievously peddle the figure of 5,091 killings in 3 months as political propaganda to undermine the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This is with disregard to the lives of thousands of rescued victims of kidnappings, and millions of Nigerians who have been protected from terrorists attacks through government’s effective counter-terrorism measures.
We are aware of terrorism-related deaths but we dare say the figure cited by the Atiku camp is cooked up. This is because neither a source was cited nor was the methodology used to arrive at the number of civilian deaths in 3 months.
“So it is unpatriotic and shamelessly inhuman of Atiku Abubakar to make a mockery of Nigerians that have died from Ill-fated terrorists attacks in a way that undermines the successes recorded in the ongoing fight against terror, and the memories of gallant andcourageous service men and women who paid the supreme price to keep millions of Nigerians from terrorist attacks.
“At the last count, security agencies have within the same period neutralised tens of thousands of terrorists and rescued hundreds of abducted persons.
“But characteristic of the opposition, there was no intention of praising the good work of the military and security agencies which have in recent months done well in rescuing abducted Nigerians and aborting several attempts by terrorists to unleash havoc on Nigerians.
“Clearly, Atiku and his image makers ignored this reality because of their selfish and desperate craze for political power. It is worrisome that his aspiration for the office of the President has become too vaulting that he is blinded to appreciating the successes recorded by the President Tinubu administration in fostering national security.”
TDF also provided some insights into measures introduced by President Tinubu to motivate the military and other security agencies.
“The allocation of the highest budgetary expenditure to Defence and Security, the procurement of sophisticated arms and ammunition, the spirited push for establishment of state police, as well as the recruitment of additional personnel into the police and military, are some of the effective measures taken by Tinubu administration of late.
“Similarly, the timely payment of monthly wages, salaries and emoluments of soldiers, and the recent pay rise for members of the Armed Forces, among other incentives, have clearly distinguished the administration from others in its commitment to eliminating insecurity in the country.
“We therefore dismiss Atiku Abubakar’s unfounded, blood-soaked narratives against the Tinubu administration. We believe that the ADC presidential candidate desperately wants to politicize insecurity to deflect public focus from his apparent lack of alternative policies to the ongoing economic reforms ahead of the 2027 elections,” TDF added.
About Author
