The Vanguards for The Defence of Democracy in Nigeria (VDDN), yesterday, chided an ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo, for allegedly visiting Benue State to score a political goal instead of commiserating with the people.
At a press conference in Abuja, National Coordinator of the group, Sharon Faliya Cham, said Obasanjo had made up his mind to use every negative opportunity to discredit the Federal Government ahead of next year’s general elections.
“In his usual self-serving style, he jumped into the Benue communal clashes and the hands of his former political foot soldier, Mr. Samuel Ortom, to play on the emotions of the people of Benue State with the sole aim of sowing seed of hatred against President Muhammadu Buhari, and by extension, his government and political party, the APC.
“To Obasanjo, politicising the deaths is permissible so long as the hatred of President Buhari is achieved. And so, he was shown all over the media laying a wreath by the graveside of the victims of these clashes. But the good people of Benue are not stupid. They know Obasanjo was shedding crocodile tears, they know that he was there on a political mission,” Cham said.
The group said if he meant well, Obasanjo should visit Zaki-Biam in the same Benue State and lay the same wreath near the graves of locals killed under his watch while he was president. “They deserve to be officially commiserated with too. Obasanjo was in Bayelsa State recently for another political mission. He should go back on a condolence and apology mission in Odi community; those that were fortunate to survive are still mourning their loved ones.
“In Taraba State, over 1,000 people were gruesomely murdered. It should be noted that the massacre happened three months before that of Benue, yet Obasanjo did not care.
“Two other places that Obasanjo will surely avoid to lay wreath of flowers are Plateau and Southern Kaduna. First and most important reason is that Obasanjo is not at home with the two governors there. They are not likely to dance to the tune of his political music,” the group said.
