The All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised President Goodluck 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.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohanmed, the party 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.
It said the first month of the killings, which is Tuesday, provides another opportunity for the President to visit the state.
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.
''Mr. President, charity begins at home. You cannot be engaging in photo-ops abroad when your country is burning,'' the party said.
It said President Jonathan's insensitive junketing and law-breaking campaign rallies across Nigeria best illustrate the old saying ''Nero fiddling while Rome burns''.
APC advised President Jonathan, as the father of the nation and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian armed forces, not to be afraid to visit any part of the country for whatever reason.
''In this case, President Jonathan's pointed avoidance of Yobe, where the death of innocent school children highlights the senseless nature of the Boko Haram insurgency, is a morale booster of sorts to the cowards who murdered those children
''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.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
Interim National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Lagos, March 23rd 2014
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