The Peoples Democratic Party has reiterated its call on Nigerians to condemn unpatriotic elements whose actions and utterances had continued to fuel insurgency in the country.
This was contained in a statement by Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Metuh stressed that inflammatory utterances by certain key politicians against the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan sparked off hatred for his administration.
This, according to Metuh, encouraged insurgents, who started demanding the ouster of the President, with threats to cripple the system through acts of terrorism.
The statement said: “When the PDP, said that a particular party, is responsible for the spate of terror in Nigeria, many had an emotional response.
“But it is now time to dispassionately focus on the facts in order to stop the carnage on innocent Nigerians.”
Metuh added that though insurgency existed in the nation before the advent of the current administration, inflammatory statements from some politicians had taken it to a different dimension.
“We wish to point out that inflammatory utterances from some top politicians have succeeded in emboldening them to launch large scale attacks,” the statement quoted Metuh as saying.
He observed that such utterances would likely have prompted donations in support of insurgency from followers of such leaders, who thought they were sponsoring a worthy cause.
He noted that these key figures never condemned acts of terrorism and the killings until well-meaning Nigerians started pointing accusing fingers at them.
He said: “They rather blamed government for not reaching out to pacify the terrorists instead of helping to find solutions.
“They relished in comments which inspired violence and embolden insurgents against the system.”
Metuh insisted that the reason some politicians were promoting insurgency in the country was not only to distract Jonathan and “rubbish” his scorecard but also to unleash unprecedented mayhem.
The intent, he added, was also to divide the people and forcefully take over power when the party loses the 2015 general election.
He added that the PDP’s earlier statement, which linked the April 14, Nyanya bombing in Abuja to utterances of the opposition, was a clear stand and a warning.
The party spokesman stressed that the PDP would henceforth go beyond shedding tears at each carnage, to exposing the enemies of the nation.
This, he said, was to limit all reckless statements, which have been fueling insurgency in parts of the country.
“We believe this will go a long way to stopping those who instigate violence through utterances and shed crocodile tears thereafter,” the party spokesman said.
He, however, said that the PDP would continue to protect the welfare and interest of Nigerians.
Metuh added that the citizens and the Federal Government would not succumb to the designs of unpatriotic elements.
He said: “Indeed, the peace, unity and stability of this country remain non-negotiable.
“They can bomb and attack, but one thing is sure: they cannot kill the Nigerian spirit in our people and our collective resolve to live together as one nation under God.
“The leadership of the PDP and the government we formed shall not be cowed, intimidated, harassed or tele-guided by acts of terrorism.”
Metuh added that the PDP was willing, able and ready to sustain the unity and stability of the country.
He therefore called on all Nigerians to stand up and collectively defend “our common destiny by openly condemning acts of terrorism and exposing those behind it.”
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