by Ogunyemi Bukola

It is in the character of the CPC and its spokesperson to play to the gallery even when the occasion calls for maturity and sobriety.  

The presidency has fired back at the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) over its criticism of the president’s handling of the alleged massacre in Baga, Borno. In a statement issued on Sunday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, accused the CPC and its spokesperson, Rotimi Fashakin, of playing to the gallery “when the occasion calls for maturity and sobriety.”

Abati stated that contrary to CPC’s claim, President Goodluck Jonathan is fully in charge of the situation and has commissioned all relevant agencies of government to carry out their investigation and ensure that justice is done.

Read the full text of the statement:

The Congress for Progressive Change, in a statement today, by its National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin has grumbled that President Goodluck Jonathan ought to have visited Baga in Borno state, following the incident of  April 16.

It is in the character of the CPC and its spokesperson to play to the gallery even when the occasion calls for maturity and sobriety.  The problem with them is that they consider everything “very unacceptable”, and in particular everything relating to President Jonathan. They deserve our sympathy.

If they care to know, President Jonathan has been very pro-active in dealing with the Baga incident. He ordered an immediate probe by the Military High Command and the intervention of rescue and aid agencies, who have been working with the Borno state government and other agencies of state to ensure that the victims are rehabilitated and assisted with relief materials.

The reports of the investigations by the Military High Command and the National Emergency Management Agency have since been made public.

President Jonathan has described the incident as most unfortunate and regrettable and he has made it clear that where there is any established case of misconduct, justice will be done. He has also welcomed the plan by the National Human Rights Commission to carry out independent investigations. He continues to receive regular briefings on the incident, even as he has directed the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to come up with an assistance programme for the displaced persons in Baga.

These steps surely do not give an impression of “insensitivity or aloofness”. Rather, it is the CPC that is being insensitive by struggling to make cheap political gain out of this.