Group kicks over ‘derogatory statement’ against Buhari

The National Democratic Force (NDF) has lashed out at Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) over a “derogatory statement” on President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the nation’s peace and tranquillity.

Babagana Monguno, national security adviser, had proposed an imminent convocation of a dialogue session amongst ethnic nationalities.

But HURIWA opposed this, asking Buhari to show its interest in peace by lifting the ban on the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

But NDF reacted, describing HURIWA as “cobbled assemblage of comical characters” who jumped to discredit an initiative they have no clue about.

In a statement signed by Abdulkadir Bolaji, its secretary general, the group said HURIWA ought to be ashamed that Buhari, whom they have labelled a dictator, has brought a “democratic solution” to problems.

While applauding Buhari and the NSA for coming up with such initiative, the NDF dismissed HURIWA’s claim.

“Gentlemen of the press, we thank you for honouring our invitation to this press briefing, which we must state from the onset is informed by the attempt by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) to mislead Nigerians on the Federal Government security blueprint as published by the office of the National Security Adviser,” he said.

“This blueprint aims to add the element of dialogue and consultation to other existing measures that have been deployed to address insecurity and crises in the country. Through the proposed intervention, the government will engage sectional and factional groups in an exercise that will deliver confidence building among the ethnic and religious divide in the country, which is expected to go a long way in addressing some of the nation’s security challenges.

“But HURIWA, as we know it to be a cobbled assemblage of comical characters, who hardly ever know whether they are coming or going, have jumped on this initiative with the intention to discredit it without having first studied the merits of the plan. Rather, HURIWA contrived series of negative connotations and tenuously attempted to latch them onto a plan that right thinking citizens of the country are describing as long overdue. The proposal was for them a primer that reawakened the irrational hatred of President Muhammadu Buhari, which seems to be the only cause left for HURIWA to fight.

“This perhaps explains why HURIWA express anger that a President Buhari, whom they have labelled a dictator is the one man that has come up with a democratic solution to problems. They were now compelled to create lies about how appointments were lopsided and how a particular section of the country is favoured. Interestingly, this is a tired and worn out propaganda since there have been enough statistical data crunching to dispel this lie.”