On Monday, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, came under fire from the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who claimed that the party had abandoned the North East to Boko Haram while it was in power.
Lawan claimed that the area was not finally freed from the control of the Boko Haram rebels until President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office.
Lawan then praised President Buhari for all of the advantages his presidency has given the North East.
The Senate President said: “Mr. President, the PDP abandoned the North East to Boko Haram, to insurgency, during the APC presidential campaign event attended by President Buhari in Bauchi.
“PDP abandoned us until you came into office. In 2015, when you were sworn in, your first task was to liberate us. Thank you very much that you did.
He said further: “We in the North East are probably the most beneficiaries of your administration. In fact, we were the first to start enjoying your administration more than any other part of Nigeria, because Boko Haram was technically defeated immediately after you came into office and you appointed our son, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and, of course, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.
“They did so well that your government gave the security that we are enjoying today. The North East, from 2015 particularly, enjoyed the most important appointments in your administration. That is to say that you are a northeasterner. This crowd is a testimony. Everywhere you go is Buhari, in the northeast.”
At a campaign event in Yobe two weeks ago, Lawan made similar claims, accusing the PDP of allowing the Boko Haram insurgency to thrive while the party was in office.
