ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has described as an act of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians a call made by seven governors of the party on President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election.
Frank, who is the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary said the call was coming 24 hours after their colleague, the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, gave a mass burial to “our beloved ones, who were victims of herdsmen attack”, adding that the nation was still mourning.
The APC governors, who visited the President on Friday and made the demand include Nasir el-Rufai Rufai of Kaduna, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Abubakar Bello of Niger, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe and Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa states.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, Comrade Frank said instead of the said governors to pay a condolence visit on their colleague in Benue and tell the President to institute a programme that would take care of the families of the victims, “they chose to visit the Aso Rock Villa and made such demand for their selfish reason.”
According to the APC chieftain, some of the governors visited the President because their political future depend solely on his continuity.
While urging that politicians should learn to play politics with human face, Frank said that “instead of these governors to advise Mr. President on how to put an end to wanton killings going on across the country, fuel queues, economic hardship and the rest, they chose to be selfish.
“Is Benue State governor not an APC member? Is Benue State where 72 people were killed not part of Nigeria? Our politicians should learn to (be mindful of) the plight of citizens when needed and not only when their votes are needed.”
Frank also warned President Muhammadu Buhari to be carefull of such people he described as ‘parasitic politicians’ by ensuring that he listen to himself on whether to seek re-election or not ahead of 2019 general elections.
“The President should recall that the impunity and arrogance being display by APC leaders like El-Rufai and others by telling Nigerians that they have no apology, angered Nigerians against the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. While Jonathan has since lost power, many of those making such statements have also abandoned him. Mr. President should therefore bear in mind that these governors are not persuading him to run not because they love him but for their selfish interest.”