The Peoples’
Democratic Party (PDP) has accused All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal
government of allegedly staging the abduction of the schoolgirls in Dapchi,
Yobe State, for ‘political purposes’, Leadership reports.
In a chat with newsmen, the party’s national publicity
secretary, Kola Olagbondiyan, referred to the abduction as a crime against
humanity, and called on the United Nations to launch investigations into the
matter.
It was gathered that
Olagbondiyan further called for the arrest of all those involved in the saga;
and urged the UN to also look into the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.
He stated that the PDP “condemns the All Progressives
Congress and certain officials in the Presidency for staging the abduction of
the schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, for political purposes."
He continued: “Our party considers this act as wicked,
callous and tormenting; to use innocent schoolgirls as pawns in an ignoble
script that was designed to hoodwink Nigerians and orchestrate a great rescue
and security prowess of a conquering general, all to push a 2019 reelection
bid, is an unpardonable gamble with human lives.
“While this failed Dapchi drama remains a poorly crafted
tragicomedy; a scam of no equal dimension, Nigerians are not ready to forgive
the APC and the Presidency for the torments inflicted on the girls, their
parents and the human community worldwide, just to score a cheap political
point.
“Nigerians know that the main aim of this devilish act was to
delude the public, set the stage for an orchestrated rescue, create a heroic
myth and false sense of achievement around the APC administration, and serve as
a spur for President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to contest the 2019
presidential election, perhaps in the coming weeks.
“As a political party, we want to further state unequivocally
that by all ramifications, this is a war crime against humanity and gross
violation of human rights on the part of the APC administration, all in the bid
to push a selfish and ill-lucked 2019 ambition.
“There is no evidence that the Boko Haram insurgents or any
militant group abducted the schoolgirls in the first place. Rather, what is
evident to all, is the high level official manipulation of security movements
in Dapchi; both in the staged abduction, and the returning of the traumatized
schoolgirls.
“It is instructive to note that till date, no report has been
presented by the national security adviser (NSA), who has been charged by
President Muhammadu Buhari with investigation of the abduction. This is in
addition to deliberate efforts by the government to suppress free flow of
information around the abduction.
“Even the regular Nigerian on the street has examined the events
leading to this abduction of our daughters; as well as their release, and can
deduce the obvious.
“Nigerians are all aware that both the abduction and return of
the schoolgirls were dramatically preceded by questionable withdrawal of troops
and all security apparatus at checkpoints and flashpoints in the Dapchi area.
“They are also aware that the Buhari presidency, as the
principal command center of military operations, has refused to come out clear
on the compromising of security and why no arrest has so far been affected in
the entire saga, thus betraying a high-level of government conspiracy against
the citizens for political reasons.
“The PDP therefore calls on the United Nations (UN) and the
International Criminal Court to declare this evil by the APC Federal Government
a war crime against humanity and immediately commence investigation on the
matter. We demand the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in this
saga.
“In the same vein, we join Nigerians to demand for the setting
up of a UN monitored Truth Commission to unravel the facts around the Dapchi
event as well as the abduction of Schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State in 2014.
“While we commiserate with the families of our loved daughters
and rejoice with those whose daughters were brought home safely, we urge
Nigerians to be alert and continue to monitor the activities of the APC as we
approach the 2019 general election, since it is now clear that this government
will stop at nothing in its desperate bid to perpetuate itself in power against
the will of the people.”
Reacting to the development, the party’s national chairman,
Prince Uche Secondus, also stated: “We thank God for the release of the
abducted girls. The release will bring relief to their parents and the entire
people of Nigeria. The main issue is, how were they kidnapped? The government
had set up an investigative committee; we challenged them to release the report
on how they were kidnapped. The mystery surrounding how they were abducted and
also released is another issue.
“Whether it was pre- determined, nobody knows. Government should
release the investigation report, because there are doubts here and there.
Whether there were conspiracies to get them out and bring them after, to earn
some reputation, nobody knows.
“As we challenge the APC government to release the report, we
also asked that never again should this type of thing happen in our country,
where for purpose of boosting profile of this failed government or whatever the
purpose may be, that security left Dapchi school and immediately they left, the
girls were kidnapped.
“Well, the government said they negotiated for it; but we charge
the APC failed government to also negotiate for the release of the remaining
Chibok girls. All these things happening are strange, never happened before. It
seems to me that the centre can no longer hold. This APC government is broken.”
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