The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the alleged dismissal of the alarming spate of kidnapping in the country by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo further confirms that the federal government led by the Progressives Congress (APC) has no iota of concern towards the pain and suffering of Nigerians.
It was earlier reported that the Vice President while addressing Nigerians based in New York on Monday was alleged to have said kidnapping in Nigeria was exaggerated, but his Osinbajo’s office later clarified that what he said was that “I don’t think the problem (kidnapping) is as massive as that”.
PDP in a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, Wednesday noted that attempting to play down on the menace as not being “as massive as that”, Prof. Osinbajo clearly demonstrated that the APC and its government are not connected with the people but only pretends towards them during electioneering.
PDP added that “In dismissing the security problem, the Vice President is simply telling victims of kidnapping that as far as the APC and its administration are concerned, they have not suffered enough.
It also described as unfortunate that “Instead of being remorseful and seeking solutions, Prof. Osinbajo is rather playing on the sensibility of Nigerians by attempting to justify his comment, which has been widely condemned by citizens from all walks of life.
The statement reads in parts: “Prof. Osinbajo has only succeeded in showcasing President Buhari’s incompetence and failure in securing the nation. He has also ridiculed his office in the eye of the international community, who is well aware of the gravity of kidnapping and other security challenges confronting our nation.
“What has Prof. Osinbajo said to the families whose breadwinners have been killed by kidnappers and many more who are still languishing in kidnappers den?
“When will the problem of kidnapping become “massive” for the APC administration when medical doctors, community heads, faith-based leaders, government officials and their relations, students, innocent school children, pregnant women and even expatriates are being kidnapped in various parts of the country?
“While our party and indeed millions of Nigerians appreciate the efforts by our security operatives in fighting this menace, despite the operational challenges imposed on them by the incompetent APC administration, the PDP insists that President Buhari must bear the blame for the persistence of the security problems”.
The opposition party claimed that this was part of the reason Nigerians, at the 2019 general election, preferred “a more capable and patriotic leader in Atiku Abubakar, who had already set out an operable blueprint to frontally confront and address the security challenges facing our nation without resorting to unnecessary blame game”.
