Attack On Emir: Presidency Hits Back At Buhari

The Presidency yesterday hit back at Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) leader Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for criticising government over last weekend’s gun attack on Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero. Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Ayo Oritsejafor also said the Federal Government has failed in its commitment to security of the nation. He spoke through a statement on the attack on Alhaji Bayero. A statement in Abuja by the CAN president’s Special Assistant, Media/Public Affairs, Mr. Kenny Ashaka, said: “The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, is saddened by Saturday’s gun attack on the octogenarian and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Gen. Buhari

The attack is disturbing and totally condemnable. This attack reinforces CAN’s call to the Federal Government on the need to do more in the area of securing Nigerians and Nigeria. “Although Nigerians are yet to know those behind the barbaric act, I want to, again, appeal to northern political, religious and traditional leaders to say and do more in order to, practically, engage those responsible for the ‘madness’ going on in northern Nigeria and find ways to help end this nightmare. “Too many innocent lives have been lost in unexplainable and avoidable circumstances and this reminds us of victims of bombed churches and those who have been killed by gunmen in their homes and places of worship. “I will like to remind Nigerians of my call to join me in fasting and prayers on the last Friday of every month, beginning from Friday, the 25th of January, 2013. 

Nigerians should pray for God’s mercy, an end to wickedness and peace over our dear nation. “As the Emir, his two sons and others injured in the attack recuperate, I wish them speedy recovery and pray to the Almighty God that the healing process should be perfected. I also condole with the families of the local council chairman, the emir’s driver and the three body guards who were killed in the attack.” Reacting to Gen. Buhari’s statement on the attack on the Emir, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, described Gen. Buhari’s comments as unfortunate, reckless and opportunistic. 

Doyin Okupe

Gen. Buhari had said the Nigerian state was not just under an ominous cloud of insecurity but all the citizens under the nation space are also victims. Describing the comments by Gen. Buhari and the CPC as “irresponsible”, Okupe cautioned against politicising the attack on the traditional ruler, stressing that the attempt by Gen. Buhari, the CPC
and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to disparage the Federal Government was uncalled for. Okupe said: “Any attempt to politicise this unfortunate attack on the revered Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and members of his family is irresponsible. “Though the attack itself is regrettable, it is difficult at present to blame it on the BokoHaram or terrorism, or in fact on some criminal elements within the society that hid under the spate of insecurity in the state to perpetuate this heinous crime.” The President’s aide added that the police and other security agencies were working round the clock to ensure that the perpetrators of the attack are arrested and prosecuted. Okupe cited the recent killing of over 20 school pupils in Connecticut, United States by a gunman to show how difficult it is to prevent crime in any part of the world. 

“At that moment in the United States, no American citizen or group blamed the killings on the President or the government, in spite of the avalanche of security apparatus and expertise available to the United States Government. “What any responsible government must be able to do is to ensure that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are apprehended, arrested and prosecuted, according to the laws of the land. “We are not impressed by similar stance by the NLC that is supposed to be non partisan in nature and in all approaches. There is indeed absolutely no need to politicise this unfortunate attack on the revered Emir. “In times like this, like in all emergencies, what the nation ought to do is to pull together in the same direction and encourage the citizenry to give full support to government and all security agencies so as to ensure that the culprits are brought to justice.”