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Plateau killings: PDP’s declaration irresponsible politics, says Presidency

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6 years ago

June 28, 2018

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The Presidency has described the seven days mourning declared by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) over the recent mass killing in Plateau state as “irresponsible politics”.

Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina disclosed this in statement made available to National Daily on Thursday.

Adesina who accused the PDP of taking advantage of the killings to score cheap political goals said the killings are not peculiar to the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He listed series of attacks which took place during the reign of the PDP, noting that the party did not declare a national mourning at the time.

Adesina said President Muhammadu Buhari “is working towards enduring solutions; and should be given the opportunity to do so”.

The statement read: “The sad and unfortunate killings in Plateau State over the weekend have been turned to opportunity to once again play irresponsible politics, particularly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which says it is declaring seven days of mourning.

He said: “A quick checklist of some savage and brutal killings in Nigeria during PDP rule, between 1999 and 2015, for which no national mourning was declared: November 20, 1999. Odi, in Bayelsa State, was invaded on orders of a PDP President. About 2,500 people killed. No national mourning.

“Between February and May, 2000, about 5,000 people were killed during riots over Sharia law in different parts of the North. No national mourning. In 2001, hundreds of people, including the old, infirm, women and children were killed in Zaki Biam. No crocodile tears.

“Between September 7-12, 2001, Jos, Plateau State, erupted in internecine killings. Between 500 and 1,000 people were killed. Flags were not flown at half-mast.

“In February 2004, at least 975 people were killed in Yelwa-Shendam, Plateau State. No mourning by the then ruling PDP. Between November 28 and 29, 2008, Jos was in flames again, with 381 deaths. No mourning.

“In 2010, 992 people killed in Jos. Mum was the word. In 2014 alone, according to Global Terrorism Index, at least 1,229 people were killed in the Middle Belt. No mourning.

“Boko Haram killings in PDP years were over 10,000. PDP flags were still fluttering proudly in the sky.”

“Even a single soul is precious, and no man should take a life, which he cannot create. But when tragic situations as had happened in Plateau State occur, such should never be used to play crude politics.

“The comatose and prostrate party is declaring seven days of mourning, during which flags in its offices would be flown at half-mast nationwide.

“But unknown to the party, those flags had been forcefully lowered since its 2015 loss at the polls, and may remain so for a long time to come, because Nigerians are politically discerning, and cannot be hoodwinked by cheap antics.”