…As Presidency said: Killings under Buhari less than in previous govts despite herdsmen rampage***

The apex socio-political body of the Igbo, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s comparison of the killings in Plateau State to those in Zamfara State as “most unfortunate.”
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Media and Publicity, Chief Emeka Attamah, on Thursday, Ohanaeze said “it believes that no human life is greater than the other and that two wrongs do not make a right.”
“Rather than compare the number of casualties, the Federal Government should rejig its security apparatus, stop further killings and appease the families and communities affected by the senseless killings,” the pan-Igbo body said.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo expressed fears that “from the trend of events, it appeared as if General T.Y. Danjuma’s outcry that there was a grand design by some people to carry out ethnic cleansing in the country and that government was colluding with them was justified.”
Ohanaeze called on Buhari to allay the fears of the people, “especially with the double standard being exhibited by the Federal Government in the handling of the issues of IPOB and the suspected Fulani herdsmen.”
The association restated its call on the Federal Government to declare the Miyetti Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, the umbrella body of the herdsmen, as a terrorist organisation, as was done to the Indigenous People of Biafra.
“While the Federal Government proscribed IPOB, a harmless organisation, Miyetti Allah which has openly claimed responsibility for most of the attacks for just the killing or rustling of their cattle has gone around unscathed.
“If government could label IPOB a terrorist organisation, there was no reason the Miyetti Allah, the umbrella body of cattle herders, should not be proscribed and their leaders prosecuted.
“If the Federal Government was not being partisan, why the silence on the utterances of Miyetti Allah who also attributed the killing of their cattle in the Benue massacres to their attacks there?
“How many suspected herdsmen have been taken to court for either the killings in the country or for carrying Ak-47 rifles about in the full glare of security operatives, contrary to the provisions of the law,” the statement said.

In the meantime, the Presidency on Thursday took a swipe at the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing it of playing irresponsible politics with the latest attacks in Plateau State that left scores of people dead.
It said the decision of the PDP to declare seven days of mourning for the killings amounted to dancing on the graves of the dead and playing cheap, infantile politics.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, stated this in a statement in Abuja.
Adesina said while the PDP which he described as a “comatose and prostrate party” asked that its flag be flown at half -mast nationwide during the period, the party did not know that those flags had been forcefully lowered since its 2015 loss at the polls, and might remain so for a long time to come.
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 which says it is declaring seven days of mourning.
“These are dolorous times that call for deep introspection on how cheap human lives have become, and the proffering of actionable ideas on how to get out of the bind, but the PDP would rather dance on the graves of the dead, playing cheap, infantile 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.”
The presidential spokesman then listed some killings which he described as savage and brutal that took place during the PDP rule between 1999 and 2015 for which no national mourning was declared.
“November 20, 1999. Odi, in Bayelsa State which was invaded on the 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 and 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,” Adesina added.
The presidential spokesman said the list showed that wanton killings had been with the country for some time.
He said while the present administration was working towards proffering lasting solutions, it should be given the opportunity to do so.
He said those playing politics with tragedies should have a change of heart or lose their humanity.
“Those who take pleasure in twisting statements from the Presidency may claim we are saying that many more people were killed under the PDP than under President Muhammadu Buhari. It would be unconscionable to do so.
“The intendment of this statement is to show that wanton killings have been with us for awhile (sic); this government is working towards enduring solutions; and should be given the opportunity to do so.
“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.
“Those who are wont to do so should have a change of heart, or lose their very humanity,” he concluded.
Show respect for the dead, PDP counsels Buhari
But the PDP, in its reaction, expressed shock by the statement credited to the Presidency. The opposition party said the statement justified the Presidency’s alleged failure to stop killings in Plateau, Zamfara, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Borno, Kogi, Taraba and other troubled states.
The PDP said it was indeed reprehensible that the Presidency in its “usual arrogance and insensitivity to the mood of the nation chose to condemn the PDP for declaring a seven-day mourning and flying our flags at half-mast in honour of the dead and solidarity with the bereaved.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, who stated this while reacting to the statement by Adesina, said it was disturbing that even in death, the Buhari Presidency still wanted to deny these victims of callous murder the honour of being mourned.
He said, “The PDP urges the Buhari Presidency to confront the challenge of fulfilling the basic responsibility of governance by providing security for the lives and property of all Nigerians irrespective of their creed, tribe and political affiliations.”

The Citizen