Leave Jonathan alone, PDP BoT boss tells APC

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Walid Jibrin, on Monday, urged the All Progressives Congress to stop attacking former President Goodluck Jonathan.

A former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, in his recently published memoir, ‘For the Record’, had accused Jonathan of “sleeping on the wheel” while terrorists were busy abducting Chibok schoolgirls.

Cameron, who was the then PM when the abduction of the school girls took place, had said British troops traced the location of some of the victims and offered to help but Jonathan refused. He also accused Jonathan’s government of being corrupt.

Jonathan, his response countered Cameron and insisted that his government sought help from UK, United States and Israel and engaged in other security measures to rescue the girls.

He also denied that his government was corrupt.

However, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu in a statement accused Jonathan’s government and the PDP of negligence over the rescue of the school girls.

He also accused Jonathan’s government of being corrupt and alleged that corruption was the hallmark of the successive PDP 16 years administrations.

But the PDP BoT Chairman in a statement urged APC to leave Jonathan alone, adding that the former President by conceding defeat to the APC presidential candidate in 2015, Muhammadu Buhari, saved Nigeria from calamity.

He stated that the current security challenges in the country should not be blamed on an individual.

Jibrin, who is also Sarikin Fulani Nassawara, said efforts were being made by Fulani leaders to control the nomadic activities of herdsmen, adding that he was hopeful that Boko Haram attacks, banditry and herdsmen challenges will be overcome.

He said, “Jonathan saved Nigeria by conceding defeat in 2015 and therefore should be praised and never be disgraced by any one. Jonathan and Mrs Patience Jonathan should be saved of any blame. “The former British prime minister has taken the matter too far in his book. The Nigerian insecurity problems are serious to single out one particular individual for blame.”

He added, “The insecurity in Nigeria should be the concern of all Nigerians. By the grace of God Boko Haram herdsmen, banditry and others will be a thing of the past. I wish to congratulate the Army, Police, Civil Defence, Directorate of State Service and all other security agencies for all their efforts. “APC should leave our former President Goodluck alone. All Fulani leaders are trying hard to ensure that Headsmen are totally controlled to convenient places therefore bringing to an end to roaming.”