APC to Amnesty: Uncharitable to say Tinubu isn’t fighting insecurity — it’s his top priority

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a swipe at Amnesty International for saying President Bola Tinubu is doing little or nothing to tackle the killings of Nigerians by gunmen across the country.

Isa Sanusi, Amnesty’s acting director in Nigeria, said more than 120 people had been killed since Tinubu assumed office on May 29.

“Protecting lives should be the utmost priority of the new government. The Nigerian authorities must urgently take steps to stop the bloodletting,” Sanusi had said.

In a statement on Wednesday, Felix Morka, spokesperson of the APC, said it was inconsiderate for Amnesty International to accuse the new government of dereliction of duty while it is just settling down.

Morka said Tinubu had promised Nigerians that security would be his topmost priority.

“While we thank Amnesty International for drawing attention to the lingering security challenges in our country especially in Plateau, Kaduna, Benue and Zamfara, we find its conclusion hasty and inconsiderate,” he said.

“During his inaugural speech, President Bola Tinubu said clearly that security will be the topmost priority of his administration and he promised to reform the nation’s security doctrine and architecture.

“He promised in categorical terms that security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.

“It is therefore uncharitable and inconsiderate of Amnesty International through its acting Nigeria country director, Isa Sanusi, to accuse the new government that is just settling down of dereliction of duty.

“Amnesty International is known for stoking internal conflict and citizen antagonism in developing nations through weaponisation and accentuation of local situations to achieve its sinister objectives while hypocritically looking the other way when similar incidents occur in developed nations, especially in the Western world.”

Morka said Amnesty International should allow the new government to do its work “without their usual condescending hypocrisy”.