#EndSARS: Buhari’s Speech Lacks Empathy – Says PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the address by President Muhamadu Buhari, on Thursday night, as empty and devoid of empathy.
The party’s position was contained in a statement titled, ‘EndSARS: Buhari’s Address Disconnected, Failed Empathy Test – PDP,’ signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja.
He said the PDP described the long-awaited address by the President about the protests rocking the nation, as disappointing and completely disconnected from the realities of the tragic occurrences in our country in the last two weeks.
The PDP appealed to Nigerians, particularly the youths, to remain calm and allow a return to normal life in the collective quest for peaceful co-existence in the overall interest of our nation.
The statement partly read, “Mr President’s address, in the face of the turmoil witnessed, the unrests as well as the killing of young Nigerians, is to say the least, depressing and failing in empathy test.
“Our party and, indeed, all lovers of peace in our country, were shocked that Mr President glossed over the immediate trigger of violent protests – the widely condemned killing at the Lekki Toll Gate by security operatives, a situation which created a global concern and drew the attention of the world to the abuse of human rights going on in our country under his watch.
“Painfully too, Mr President, as the Commander-in-Chief, was silent on the demand by Nigerians for enquires into the involvement of the military in the gruesome killing.
“Sadly, the long-awaited address failed to inspire any hope. It failed to address the trepidations, the pervading hopelessness, the drifting towards anarchy and provided no concrete steps on how to arrest the situation and rein in bandits, hoodlums and vandals that were let loose to unleash violence on peaceful protesters and innocent Nigerians.
He also noted that President equally missed an opportunity to heal wounds and inspire hope by outlining a roadmap to open up the economy in a manner that will enable our teeming hard-working youths to pursue their productive goals as well as address the issue of pervading hunger in the land.
The PDP urged all men and women of good faith to join forces in praying for our country as well as working towards solutions and peaceful resolution of the crisis that seeks to envelop the nation.
PUNCH
