By Umar Muhammad Puma, Abuja & Ayodele Samuel, Lagos
Disturbed by his refusal to visit the scene of the gruesome murders of young school children in Yobe state and commiserate with the bereaved families, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised President Jonathan, as the father of the nation and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, not to be afraid to visit any part of the country for whatever reasons.
The party in a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohanmed, reminded the President that he has not yet visited Yobe state, one month after the dastardly killing of many schoolchildren in the state, to commiserate with the government and the bereaved families.
APC said since the President’s planned return from his latest foray abroad on Tuesday coincides with the first month of the killings, he should fly straight to Yobe.
”As we said in our earlier statement on this issue on March 10th, ‘far from being a mere formality, such a visit will provide great succour to the families of the victims, reassure them and other residents of the state that their government has not abandoned them to their fate, and also serve as a morale booster for our gallant troops who are battling the terrorists, against all odds’,” it said.
APC reminded the President that since the killings, he has hosted a wasteful centennial celebration, travelled across Nigeria to illegally kick-start his campaign for the 2015 elections and journeyed to Namibia, Italy and The Netherlands, in a needless junketing that belies the massive security problems facing the country.
It said President Jonathan’s insensitive junketing and law-breaking campaign rallies across Nigeria best illustrate the old saying ”Nero fiddling while Rome burns”.
”If however the President has any reason why he does not want to visit the scene of the gruesome murders to commiserate with the bereaved families, he should tell Nigerians who have continued to wonder why he has been avoiding the state,” the party said.
