UNGA: House Minority Caucus Faults Boko Haram Weakened Claim by Buhari

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has faulted the claim by President Muhammadu Buhari at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), that terrorists have been so weakened in Nigeria that they are now preying on soft targets.

The caucus, in a statement by its leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, said it has reviewed Buhari’s UNGA address and is depressed that it did not reflect the ugly reality of the failures of his administration, as well as the economic, security and social ruins that have confronted the nation under his watch.

According to the lawmakers, in reality, insurgents have become so emboldened under Buhari’s watch that they are now attacking military formations, kidnapping and killing gallant officers, while overrunning communities and murdering citizens without restraint.

The caucus holds that Buhari’s speech is a great disservice to the nation by not presenting the true picture of affairs in the country; the human rights violations, corruption, incompetence in his administration; the excruciating hardship, escalated insecurity, national divisiveness and infrastructural decay under his watch, thereby blocking avenues for desired intervention in the various ailing sectors.

It also expressed shock over claims in the speech that his administration built isolation centres and emergency hospital wards, all over the country in the fight against Covid-19.

The lawmakers opined that the speech lacked definite personal commitments towards credible electoral process especially as the nation approaches the 2023 general election.

The lawmakers said: “The speech did not reflect on the closure of schools and crippling of education in many parts of our country, where normal life has been destroyed by terrorists, neither did it show any empathy towards the victims of terrorism attacks. Our caucus is worried that in reflecting on violent conflicts, Mr. President’s address conveyed no personal commitments that can guarantee an end to poor and undemocratic governance, human rights abuses, poverty, ignorance, injustice and inequalities that are prevalent under his watch, even after identifying such as the causes of conflicts.

“Moreover, our caucus is worried that Mr. President’s speech did not portray any decisive roadmap towards economic recovery and food security; had no personal commitment to end corruption in his administration; had no personal commitment to end borrowing or show a clear-cut plan to repay the huge debt being accumulated by his administration.”

The caucus therefore urged Buhari to always crosscheck the content given to him by his handlers so as to ensure that his position, especially on the world stage, captures the reality, as well as aspiration prevalent in the country.

This, according to the lawmakers, is because such addresses ought to serve as unblemished working document for interventions and solutions at various levels of governance.