Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday said that President Muhammadu Buhari no longer deserved to be referred to as the Commander in Chief.
It said this was because of Buhari’s “manifest failure to effectively lead from the fronts against bandits and terrorists ravaging our nation.”
In a statement by its national spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP asserted that the recent declaration by his former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, that, under the current approach, it would take the nation 20 years to vanquish terrorists, “is a direct hit on President Buhari’s failure as a Commander-in-Chief.”
The statement reads in part, “The party notes with dismay that our nation has descended to a level where government officials and other prominent Nigerians have resorted to begging and negotiating with terrorists, adding that such ugly reality of a failed state confirms that the Buhari administration has surrendered the sovereignty of our nation to bandits, insurgents and terrorists.
“Moreover, the recent statement by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Magashi, that unarmed Nigerians should protect themselves in the face of armed aggression by bandits and terrorists, further exposes Buhari as a failed Commander-in-Chief, who cannot stand up to the demands of the designation of his office.
“It should interest Mr. President that a member of his cabinet has declared him ineffective as well as one who is incapable of commanding his parade and guaranteeing the safety of lives and property of our citizens.
“Even more depressing is the disposition of the Buhari Presidency to blame victims of terrorists’ attacks, as was in the case of the beheading of 43 compatriots in Borno State, instead of going after and apprehending the assailants.”
The PDP, therefore, charged President Buhari to end his administration’s alleged lethargic and cowardly disposition towards the handling of security matters in our country.
“Mr President must stand up to the demands of his office and designation as the Commander-in-Chief,” the party added.