PDP to Buhari: Speak up now on Monguno, Kyari clash

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has observed that there was apprehension in the country over who is in charge of its security and has therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to end his taciturnity and personally speak to the issue raised by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major Gen. Babagana Monguno, against the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.

In a statement issued in, Abuja on Tuesday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party maintained that the president must address the nation, without any further delay, “on the command crisis rocking the Presidency, in which strange elements have been exposed as having taken over critical issues of governance, including security matters.”

The party observed that Nigerians have become apprehensive that the Presidency had remained mute in the face of revelations of the NSA, that Presidential responsibilities, including presiding over very sensitive security matters, have been taken over by the Chief of Staff, “who now functions as a de facto President.”

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The statement recalled: “In his petition, Gen. Monguno raised salient issues concerning the state of security as well as internal factors in the presidency frustrating the fight against insurgency and acts of violence ravaging our country.”

The party invited Nigerians to note that “any President, who is on top of issues of governance, and who has not relinquished his duties, would have immediately addressed the nation on such an issue of urgent national importance.”

The PDP lamented that President Buhari’s taciturn posturing in the face of a command crisis was worsening the nation’s already perilous security situation and further validated global apprehensions that the President has “become overwhelmed by the demands of his office and completely abdicated his duties to a cabal.”

“It is indeed distressing to the nation that the situation threatens our national stability and could heighten anxieties in the security hierarchy regarding whose orders to obey,” the main opposition party added.

The PDP insisted that Buhari must hold it as a duty to Nigerians to personally speak to the situation immediately as the nation was undergoing an insecurity situation that is unknown to our national history.

It further noted: “The PDP, as a party, that has the interest of our nation at heart, has the responsibility to invite Mr President to address Nigerians on this matter.

“Our party, therefore, counsels the Buhari Presidency not to attempt to use the decoy of silence to sweep such issue of grave national concern under the carpet, as such could compound the security situation in the country.”