APC lacks understanding – Abati

The Presidency on Sunday said a statement issued by the interim spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, accusing President Goodluck Jonathan of abdicating his responsibilities had exposed the author as lacking in understanding and intelligence.


Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said this in an interview with State House correspondents in Abuja.

Abati said contrary to Muhammed’s claim, Jonathan had never at any time abdicated his responsibilities as the President of the country.

He explained that at the centre of the President’s message to the BringBackOurGirls campaigners recently was need for unity against terrorism and not abdication of duty.

He said, “If you look at the statement by Lai Muhammed, he is accusing the government of abdicating its responsibilities. President Jonathan has never at any time abdicated responsibilities.

“He has consistently made it clear that the safety of every Nigerian is important to him, that the security of lives and property is central to all the goals and objectives of this administration.

“He has made it clear that he as President acknowledges the fact that the primary duty of government is to secure the lives and property of all Nigerians and all persons who live within the geographical domain.

“In his statement to the BringBackOurGirls campaigners in Abuja, he said that they should be united against terrorism and Boko Haram. That was his message. He was not abdicating responsibility.

“He was not saying they should not talk about government responsibility and talk only about Boko Haram. The President was calling for unity. He was calling for a proper focusing and targeting of the meaning of protest in this context.

“He was saying in the speech delivered by Jumoke Akinjide that it is our country that is under siege. We are faced with a group of internal and external enemies who go under the names of insurgents and terrorists to attempt to compromise the integrity of Nigeria.”