The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Tony Anenih, has called for collective efforts against the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram.
According to him, all Nigerians, irrespective of regional, religious or political affiliations should rally round the present government to combat the menace of terrorism across the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr. Anenih, sympathised with the parents of the over 200 girls abducted in Chibok, Borno State over a month ago, praying for their safe return.
The statement reads, “As a father, I deeply sympathise with the parents of the abducted Chibok girls and pray for their safe return. No parent should have to experience what the parents of these innocent girls are passing through on account of this outrageous abduction by Boko Haram.
“I also understand the anger that has been expressed through the global #BringBackOurGirls movement and wish to state that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are fully committed to ensuring the safe return of our daughters”.
The former Minister of Works, however deplored the politicisation of a very serious national issue by the opposition party, saying “Such behaviour is unbecoming of patriotic citizens of a democratic nation like Nigeria.
“When militants gunmen attacked a shopping mall in Kenya, killing many people and holding many others hostage, the opposition leader, Rahila Odinga, stood right beside the President, Uhuru Kenyatta, while the latter was addressing Kenyans on the dastardly attack.
“We are all witnesses to the fact that when al-Qaeda attacked the United States of America and the United Kingdom, citizens of those countries, irrespective of political affiliations, closed ranks and supported their respective Governments in their fight against the perpetrators of terror. In these specific cases, political opponents did not ask their President/ Prime minister to resign.
“Boko Haram is a threat to Nigeria and to our democracy. Nobody is more aware of this fact than President Jonathan. That is why the President is doing all that is within his constitutional powers to fight the terrorist group. It is his respect for constitutionalism that has kept him from employing jack-boot methods.
“I make bold to say that no President of Nigeria could have done better within the ambits of constitutional powers!
“Unfortunately, certain comments I have heard or read in recent times from some Nigerians who ought to know better make me wonder if they expect the President to put on a helmet, pick up a rifle and personally march into Sambisa Forest. I ask: where in the world does a President do that”?
Anenih states further, “There is no doubt that there are challenges but it is disheartening that some Nigerians are unsupportive of President Jonathan’s genuine efforts in the war against Boko Haram, even when nations such as France, United States of America and Great Britain have been collaborating with Nigeria and her Francophone neighbours (Chad, Niger, Benin Republic and Cameroon) in search of a solution to the crisis.
“The Boko Haram insurgency is not against Jonathan as an individual, rather it is against the Nigerian state. That is why our collective efforts are needed to tackle the challenges. In this respect, the military needs assistance, especially vital information from the citizenry, to work with.
“I, therefore, urge all Nigerians to stand united behind President Jonathan, the Federal Government and the security agencies in this fight against terror. The message to Boko Haram from all Nigerians must be: we will never bow to terror”.
