TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says a statement by Lai Mohammed, minister of information, in which the latter noted that kidnapping and banditry are not federal offences, indicates that the presidency has surrendered to terrorists.

Mohammed, while responding to PDP’s allegation that the federal government is not prosecuting bandits and kidnappers, said such offences do not fall within the jurisdiction of federal government.

Reacting to the statement by the minister, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP publicity secretary, said the federal government’s position shows that the presidency isn’t committed to protecting Nigerians.

“The Peoples Democratic Party says the statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Lai Mohammed, that the Federal Government is not duty bound to protect Nigerians from bandits, has confirmed apprehensions that the All Progressives Congress and the Buhari Presidency have surrendered our nation to terrorists,” the statement read.

“The PDP stressed that the statement by the minister is another clear evidence that President Buhari is indeed absent, has completely abdicated the responsibilities of his office and capitulated to bandits.

“Lai Mohammed’s statement further reveals that the Buhari Presidency has not been committed to combating banditry but had, all along, been feeding Nigerians with lies, propaganda and falsehood, while bandits are pillaging our nation.

“It is unthinkable that President Buhari, who promised to lead from the front, is now running away from duty while seeking to heap the burden of his office on the states, who do not have control of security agencies.

“Moreover, the fact that a cabinet minister in the shade of Lai Mohammed is left to address this critical aspect of our national security that is vested on the President, shows that our nation is plagued by Presidential absenteeism and a dysfunctional command structure.”

Ologbondiyan also urged the national assembly to amend the constitution to establish state police.