Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP),Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has mocked President Muhammadu Buhari for shunning the burial of five Air Force officers who died in a helicopter crash while prosecuting the war on terror.
Mr. Abubakar in a statement made available to The Next Edition said, “Our heroes deserve respect both in life and death and the refusal of the president to attend the funeral of these heroes is part of a pattern of unpatriotic behaviour demonstrated by President Buhari.
“At a time when the morale of our soldiers should be lifted up as they face the difficult task of defeating the terrorists who are threatening our national security, I find it most regrettable that President Muhammadu Buhari, despite being in Abuja, chose not to attend the funeral of the five Air Force officers who died in a helicopter crash while prosecuting the war on terror.
“Last month, I had cause to advise the President to find time to attend the funerals of the soldiers of the 157 Taskforce Battalion in Metele, Borno State, who paid the supreme price for Nigeria in large numbers.
“Sadly, due to reasons best known to him, President Buhari chose not to attend their funeral, neither was he represented by the Vice President nor any federal delegation. This was despite the fact that the President had time to host Nollywood actors and actresses the previous day. Imagine celebrating just before such a solemn event,” Mr. Abubakar said.
He recalled that while the most recent funeral held in Abuja, the President was around and had just the previous day inaugurated his re-election campaign council.
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“My question for Mr. President is this: Is securing your second term, more important to you than securing Nigeria?
He called on President Buhari to learn from even younger leaders, like French President Emmanuel Macron, who on March 28, 2018, attended the funeral of a single French policeman, Lt Col Arnaud Beltrame, who was killed by terrorists in Southern France.
The PDP presidential hopeful said presence of the Mr. Marcon at the funeral boosted the morale of the French security forces because it showed a commitment to their wellbeing and honour for their memory by the head of state.
“Very sadly, President Buhari missed another opportunity to demonstrate such commitment to our Armed Forces,” the former VP continued.
Mr. Abubakar commended the Nigerian military for their sacrificial efforts to secure all citizens of the country saying, “You have my full support and solidarity. When we make the solemn vow that the ‘labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain,’ we mean your colleagues, who paid the ultimate price to secure Nigeria.
He prayed God to grant rest to the souls of the departed officers and to bless the Nigerian Armed Forces.gerian Armed Forces.
