Former Acting National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has said that the issue of insecurity plaguing the country is one hinged on lies and hypocrisy. He fingered the ruling All Progressives Congress as the instigator of the rampaging herdsmen across the country warning that the problem may boomerang if Nigerians remain docile.
He explained that the security problem portends great danger to Nigeria and if not urgently tackled the country may cease to exist.
Answering questions from newsmen at a media parley on his 70th birthday, in Ilorin, on Wednesday, Baraje, questioned the true identity of the bandits and insurgents rampaging the country.
He declared that the bandits and insurgents “Are not our real Fulanis, but invaders from our neighbouring countries sponsored by frustrated Nigerian politicians who are desperate for political power at all cost.”
According to him, “it is not today that we have herdsmen in Nigeria. The Fulanis here have lived peacefully and intermarried within the communities they lived. How can they suddenly become danger to people?
Pointing fingers at APC, he asked, “If they want to be honest let them tell us what they are doing in our country and how they got here in that large number.
“They are Fulanis who were given licence for brazen audacity because some people desperately wanted to win election. Now, they have refused to go back and it has become a problem because if you force them, they will let the cat out of the bag
“If they are Fulanis that have been on ground, will they be so difficult to arrest? Now, it has gone to the extent that government now become defender of criminals”
The PDP Chieftain cautioned desperate politicians behind the insecurity problem in the country not to throw Nigeria into a war-torn nation like Sudan and Rwanda among others.
He defended the setting up of security outfits in some parts of the country, such as Amotekun and others, saying ” there is nothing wrong in people putting in place their own security outfits when their lives are threatened”
On moves by some governors’ of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to woo former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of APC, the PDP leader, said their action will not constitute any threat to the opposition party because “Jonathan is a thorough personality who knows what to do at the appropriate time.”
Speaking on zoning in the PDP, the former chairman asked Nigerians to be patient as the party has constituted a committee which is presently working on it, as zoning remains a cardinal principle of the party.
On the crisis within the PDP, Baraje, described it as normal in a democracy, saying, with the reconciliation committee headed by the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, the issues affecting the party would be resolved amicably soon.
Commenting on his relationship with Saraki, he said ” It is not a kind of master-servant relationship, but Dr Saraki remains my boss, leader and brother, it is a multi-dimensional relationship.
“I was a civil servant when he became the governor of Kwara state and he treats me like a senior brother,” he added
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