Ekweremadu under fire for Boko Haram comments

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, has come under fire over comments credited to him that worsening cases of Boko Haram attacks have been recorded under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said if Ekweremadu had leveraged his high office to get the necessary information from those involved in the Boko Haram fight, especially the Nigerian military, “he would not have made the kind of partisan and incautious comments attributed to him – and which he has not denied.”

It added: “Contrary to what Ekweremadu said, the terrorists have been weakened by the more methodical and focused approach of the present administration to the anti-terror fight, which includes the tightening of security at border locations that has made it difficult for the terrorists to maneuver. This approach is a far cry from the previous haphazard activities.”

Also, Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Lagos West had earlier faulted Ekweremadu, and advised him against playing politics with the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in recent times.

But the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in defence of the Deputy Senate President, described his position as just and patriotic.

Spokesman of the party, Olisa Metuh, said though the APC was free to play politics and make claims with the Boko Haram attacks, the PDP was deeply interested in the safety of the lives of all Nigerians.

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He said the Deputy Senate President was apparently worried about the persistent killings and had offered his help and that of the National Assembly to curb the killings. “PDP as a party is not interested in taking credit. We will support the President and the legislature to curb terrorism. What we want is for the lives of every Nigerian to be safe,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ekweremadu has clarified his comment, saying that at no time did he call Buhari names over the upsurge of terrorism in the nation.

He said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu that his comment which was only meant to rally Nigerians’ support for the government in the battle against insurgency was borne out of genuine concern.

The statement added that whereas Ekweremadu would never shy away from making constructive criticisms where necessary, it was callous to twist his comment to score cheap political points.

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