Kaduna train attack: APC accuses PDP of ‘trying to profit from a national tragedy’

Ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Friday, berated the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for seeking to ‘to profit from our collective grief and tragedy in its desperate quest to seize power and plunge our country back into ruinous looting ways.’

The APC was reacting to statements credited to the PDP over the last Monday’s terrorist attack on a Kaduna-bound shuttle train from Abuja which recorded about 8 deaths, with up to 26 injured and unaccounted number of passengers taken away by the terrorists as hostages.

The PDP, it would be recalled, in its statement, Thursday, had heaped blames on the President Muhammadu Buhari-APC government for security lapses, even as it pointed accusing fingers at top government functionaries as major actors in the rising insecurity bedeviling the country.

“The public confession by the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai authenticates the PDP’s position that the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration knows the whereabouts and plans of the terrorists ravaging our nation but deliberately refuse to act.

“Also, the revelation by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, that some members of the APC-led Federal Executive Council frustrated his request to install security surveillance equipment to avert terrorist attack on the Kaduna-Abuja rail track confirms that the APC administration has been creating safety nets for terrorists to freely operate in our country.

“In exposing the APC government which he is part of, Mallam el-Rufai said, “we know where their camps are, we know where they are, the SSS has their phone numbers, they listen to them and they give me report.”

“In his own confession, the Minister of Transportation said: “We knew what the problems will be. We knew we needed to have digital security equipment. I warned that lives will be lost and now lives are lost.”

“When you come with sincerity to government and your colleagues are stopping you, it is annoying”.

“These revelations from high-ranking APC public officials who are in the position to know is troubling as they are unequivocal confirmation that APC leaders are in league with terrorists,” the PDP had stated.

However, the ruling party said the reaction by the main opposition came ‘while our nation is in deep mourning over recent terrorist train attack and other acts of violence perpetrated by avowed enemies of our nation.’

According to the APC, the government has so far taken active steps towards safeguarding the rail systems from future attacks, ‘while the PDP continues to engage in idle mudslinging.’

“In one of its many irrational outbursts, the PDP has suggested that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government is complicit in the heinous train attack in which some of our compatriots lost their lives several injured and others unaccounted for.

“It is outright unconscionable, insensitive and irresponsible for the PDP to seek to politicize a terrorist attack that cut short the lives of our dear ones for its own base interest. Granted that Nigerians have become accustomed to PDP’s arrant flippancy, the occasion of a national tragedy is not exactly a good time for puerile rascality.

“While the PDP digs deep in the mud trying to find electoral gold, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a swift response to this tragic event, met with Security Chiefs and directed the immediate conclusion of all processes for implementation of the integrated Security Surveillance and Monitoring System (ISSM) solution for Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line as well as the extension of the ISSM solution to cover the Lagos – Ibadan Rail line.

“The President further directed the rescue of all kidnapped passengers, and ordered a manhunt for the perpetrators of these acts of terror.

“The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) was also directed to speedily repair the damaged lines and restore services without delay.

“Several senior administration officials visited and condoled with bereaved families and extended support and care to those injured in the attack while the PDP continues to engage in idle mudslinging.”