Acting Nigeria Director of the global watchdog, Isa Sanusi had disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday night that the brazen failure of the Federal Government to protect Nigerians was gradually becoming the norm in the country.
Sanusi stated that though the federal government had vowed to enact security measures in response to various attacks by marauding gangs, the promises had not translated into meaningful action.
This was even as he expressed concern that rural communities are always bracing themselves for the next bout of violence and deadly attacks from bandits and suspected terrorists.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, frowned at the report, saying it was a hasty conclusion that was far from reality.
Morka argued that it was ‘uncharitable and inconsiderate’ of Amnesty International to accuse the new government that is just settling down of dereliction of duty.
This was even as the APC spokesman accused the watchdog of “sheepishly gloating over the unfortunate incidents”.
He said, “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. President Tinubu had decried the persistent security breaches in the country and said he would not allow insecurity challenges to bring Nigeria to its knees while other countries are advancing.
“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.”
Continuing, Morka stated that several nations across the world, including the United States are bedevilled by the global challenge of insecurity.
While stating that by the end of May 2023, almost 20,000 people have died cumulatively as a result of gun violence and other violent crimes in US, Morka expressed surprise that AI has not raised any alarm or accused the American government of dereliction of duty.
He also made reference to the United Kingdom where there is a growing menace of stabbing and knife-related crimes.
According to him, UK police recorded 49, 265 offences involving knives and other sharp instruments in 2022 alone and another 46,334 in 2021.
“Amnesty International and its affiliates are advised to give the young government some time to work things out, in consonance with its pledge to our people, rather than rushing out with its jaded diatribe against the Nigerian government and its security authorities.
“President Bola Tinubu and his team are settling down to solving many of our national challenges across various sectors. Amnesty International should allow this government to do its work without their usual condescending hypocrisy,” he stated.
