Presidency Replies PDP Over Comment On Buhari’s Cancelled Trip To Zamfara

The Presidency has slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its comment on President Muhammadu Buhari’s cancelled flight to Zamfara State last week Thursday.

Naija News reports that the opposition party had in a statement last week Friday knocked the President over the cancellation of his visit to Zamfara due to poor weather conditions.

The PDP claimed that Buhari failed to visit the North West state as a result of the rising insecurity, adding that the President could have travelled by road for the visit.

Reacting to the claims in a statement on Sunday, Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu said the opposition party is ignorant and being mischievous about their comment on the cancelled visit.

Shehu said it is shameful and disgraceful for the PDP that was in government for 16 years not to know presidential movement schedules, saying that the President cannot just enter a car and travel by road.

The statement reads: “Criticism of the President, in particular the one by the opposition PDP, for not proceeding with the journey, Sokoto-Gusau by road, a distance of about 200 kilometres, shows either a lack of understanding of presidential movements, especially for a party that held that office for 16 years, or an act that smacks of mischief. Whatever be the case, there must be a limit to trivialisation.

“All over the world, Commanders-in-Chief, serving or even those that have left office, cannot hop into a car and go anywhere they want, at any time of the day. In the United States, for instance, a law going as far back as 1958, prevents past Presidents from traveling on public roads without assured security (how much more of serving Presidents).

“When roads are closed for presidential movements here and elsewhere, consideration is also given for the safety of other road users, not just that of the President or even a governor.

“The statement on the issue by the PDP attacking the President for not making it to Gusau without this being planned ahead of the journey is shameful and disgraceful for a party that held the presidency of the country in the past. What is their own record?

“It is sad for the country that the bankruptcy of issues has forced the PDP, so-called leading opposition party, to hang on to life by only telling lies. And their caravan of falsehood has moved even more speedily following the inauguration of their not-so-new national executive at the end of last year.

“It is equally important that local political actors who have seized upon the cancellation of the visit to describe it as a victory for this or that faction of the party, accompanied by songs, lyrics and videos to know that their joy is short-lived. As he promised in that broadcast, the visit to Gusau by the President is only a matter of time.

“Given the right conditions of the weather and all other things, he will return, and in time to accomplish his mission.”