NAN-H-102
Criticism
By Emmanuel Mogbede
Abuja, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) has decried the politicisation of the death of Lt. Col. Mohammed Abu-Ali and six soldiers, killed by Boko Haram insurgents.
The group in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Muhammad Labbo and Secretary, Mr Cassidy Madueke, on Wednesday in Abuja, described the development as unfortunate.
It accused some supporters of former President Goodluck Jonathan of using “the unfortunate demise’’ of the soldiers to raise issues of equipment purchased under Jonathan`s administration.
It said that it was saddening that the supporters could not honour the dead soldiers who sacrificed their lives while defending the country.
“Under the prevailing emotional circumstances, what is expected of patriotic Nigerians, including the former president’s supporters, is to show empathy with the dead, their bereaved families and the institutions they represent’’.
The group stated that it was insensitivity for any person or group to point fingers at this moment of national mourning on issues related to equipment purchase.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the purported equipment purchased in former President Jonathan`s administration were refurbished T72 tanks from the Warsaw pact countries manufactured before World War II as evidenced’’.
This, the group added, was the case of other equipment purchased by the Jonathan administration.
It said that the equipment included the decommissioned Alpha Jets and MI 25 helicopters which led to the death of several officers and men as they kept falling off from the sky
It added that such incidents were more in operations against insurgency.
The group, however, called on the present administration not to make reference to the misdeeds and misrule of the past.
It condoled with the families of the deceased soldiers and urged Nigerians to continue to support Buhari’s administration in its effort to completely eradicate the menace of Boko Haram. (NAN)
EEM/OPI/OPI
Edited by Olisa Ifeajika