Party lifts suspension on Elumelu, six other reps
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded sacking of Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd), for asking unarmed Nigerians to defend themselves against armed aggression by bandits and terrorists.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the statement by the minister as “reckless, irresponsible and a confirmation that the Buhari administration has surrendered to outlaws and has no determination to fight them.”
PDP said it was unthinkable that a government would describe unarmed victims of armed aggression of terrorist and bandits as “cowards” while those who were elected and given the necessary resources to defend them recede into the comfort and safety of their offices in Abuja.
Such disposition to security, according to the PDP, “validates apprehensions that our nation is indeed descending to a failed state under the Buhari Presidency, where government can no longer perform its duties while unarmed citizens are left to confront bandits and warlords.”
“Given the silence by the Buhari Presidency, our party holds that the defeatist comment by the minister represents the disposition of President Muhammadu Buhari and his security architecture, and explains why the administration has remained complacent in the fight against terrorism and banditry in our country, “ the party said.
PDP further stated that such statement by the Buhari administration, at the time it ought to be scaling up its security strategies to guarantee the safety of all Nigerians, “have been emboldening bandits, terrorists and kidnappers to escalate their atrocities against our compatriots.”
It lamented that with such disposition, “the Buhari administration is creating a lucrative job for bandits, terrorists and kidnappers who are settled with huge ransom instead of being faced with firepower.”
MEANWHILE, PDP has lifted suspension placed on seven of its members in the House of Representatives. They are Ndudi Elumelu, Wole Oke, Lynda Ikpeazu, Anayo Edwin, Gideon Gwani, Toby Okechukwu and Adekoya Addul-majid.
They lawmakers were suspended shortly after the inauguration of the 9th House of Representatives for allegedly frustrating the party’s bid to install its preferred candidate, Kingsley Chinda, as minority leader of the House.
A statement by Ologbondiyan made it clear that the lifting of the suspension was based on recommendations of various committees set up on issues relating to the suspension.
The party charged the lawmakers to be loyal to the party and obey its directives in line with its constitution and vision of its founding fathers.
In the same vein, the party maintained that it would continue to recognise the PDP caucus of the House of Representatives as led by Kingsley Chinda and charged all members elected on the platform of the PDP to continue to participate in the activities of the caucus.
It urged the lawmakers to ensure a stronger and more viable opposition that speaks with one voice in the legislative house.
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