The Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has asked the President Tinubu-led government to ensure that the defence agreement with the United States of America includes joint operations which will ultimately result in knowledge sharing and experiential learning to help Nigeria sustainably combat insecurity, rather than full externally-led “precision attacks.”
In a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP says Nigerians were notified of the American-led strike on terrorists’ assets through the verified social media pages of President Trump and other American officials before the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued what it calls a vague statement many hours later, offering a passive confirmation of the knowledge and cooperation of the Nigerian Government in the operation.
The PDP says while the international cooperation in the fight against high crimes like terrorism is very much appreciated, it is deeply concerned about a communication structure where foreign powers break the news of security operations in the country before the Nigerian Government itself does.
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The PDP stressed at what it describes as inverted communication approach which it also says does not help the Federal Government or Nigerians in any way, especially when taken against the background that the U.S military has been reported to have previously entered and operated in Nigeria successfully without the permission and knowledge of the Government.
The party says the Federal Government should have been the first to report the news in order to properly sensitise the Nigerian populace, instead of waiting to confirm news already in public circulation, except they were taken unawares like the rest of the citizens.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
