The Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos, Shakiru Apena on Thursday absolved President Goodluck Jonathan of any guilt concerning Nigeria’s security challenges.
The President had been criticised by members of the opposition party, APC, for declaring his interest in running for a second term 24 hours after a suicide bomber caused the death of several school students in Potiskum, Yobe State.
However, Apena insisted that it was the duty of the “security and intelligence community to protect the country and not the duty of the president of the country”.
This was his reaction to comments making the rounds by the opposition party All Progressives Congress (APC) that the President’s second term declaration rally came too close, after an attack on the school.
“The opposition party could have gone to Chibok by themselves. It’s easier said than done. Mr. President will not buckle to blackmail and pressure from an opposition that is desperate to get into power”, he said, noting that the issue of Boko Haram is a national tragedy which did not start from this administration but in the 80’s.
Commenting on the issues surrounding the Permanent Voters Card distribution (PVC), he said that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needed more staff to help in the distribution, adding that the issues concerning shifting of dates was partly because of logistic problems and inadequate staff.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Mr. Apena scored the distribution process average and further stated that people who cannot get the chance to collect their PVC can still get it from the local governments.
“The reason I scored INEC average is because the day I went to get my PVC there were just five people on the line which took me about 5mins to get mine, while others will like to wait till the last hour,” he noted.
