Only an irresponsible opposition group like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would accuse the Buhari administration of recruiting hoodlums who used the EndSARS protests as a cover to wreak havoc on public and private property.
According to the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) in a statement signed by its chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, PDP should have maintained its silence on the matter rather than making an invidious and rascally comment.
“We noticed that this party had for several weeks kept quiet on the EndSARS protests as well as its violent aftermath, including the massive looting spree as well as attacks on police personnel and formations in many parts of the country.
“No fewer than 30 police personnel were killed, including some who were allegedly roasted in a PDP State, but none of this caught the attention of an opposition party which sees nothing wrong in making false allegations against security agencies.
“Yet this is a political party that cannot extricate itself from issues of police brutality that triggered the protests in the first place, and rather than continue to maintain its silence, PDP chose to act like a drunken sailor.
“We also wonder what type of mind would conjure a suggestion that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government could unleash hoodlums in a mega city like Lagos which is one of its major strongholds?
“This is however not the time to ask PDP elements real questions; or else they should be explaining how the corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Ports PLC in Lagos could be the target of arsonists during a protest ostensibly meant to put a stop to police brutality.
“Even the manner it accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for freezing accounts of protesters involved in what the party claimed were genuine protests against police brutality, shows its insincerity.
“We make bold to say that the CBN has a duty to investigate illicit funds movements and it didn’t go outside the provision of the law as attested to by many legal experts”, said BMO.
The group added that even before the recent protests against police brutality, the Buhari administration had been taking steps towards putting Police reforms in place.
“There is no record that PDP made any genuine effort to reform the Police in the 16 years it spent in office at the centre, even when there were serial allegations of brutality against the now scrapped Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Police in many parts of the country.
“But within a few years in office, President Muhammadu Buhari had set machinery in motion for the establishment of Community Policing initiative and signed a new Police Act as part of conscious efforts to reform the Police.
“We also invite Nigerians to note how fast he responded to protesters’ initial demand for the scrapping of SARS, as well as the 5 for 5 demands which are in the process of being implemented fully.
“So, it’s not a surprise for us that the United Nations (UN) has commended the Buhari administration for its handling of the EndSARS protests, contrary to the position of PDP and its associates who are bent on playing politics with everything”.
The group says it convinced that President Buhari would deliver on his promise of Police reforms that Nigerians would be proud of, and urged members of the public to ignore PDP’s political antics.
