The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged Nigerians to see activities of Boko Haram terrorists and bandits as a national crisis injurious to “our collective well-being” and refused to be influenced by what it called “insensitive and selfish partisan narratives by shortsighted groups and individuals”, who give the heightened insecurity in the land “a dangerous ethno-religious slant.”
Arguing that “the aftermath of an attack will trigger inflamed responses particularly from those affected,”, the party in a statement by Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, National Publicity Secretary, described many of the reactions as “ simplistic narratives and politically-tainted criticisms which are oftentimes misplaced and counterproductive,” which Nigerians should “rise above”.
He said. “True to form, violent extremists and terrorists all over the world would adopt desperate tactics by selecting soft targets for their barbaric and opportunistic attacks. In Nigeria, these godless people are attempting to stoke religious sensitivities by pitching Christians and Muslims against one and other through their recent pattern of cowardly attacks. This demonstrates how debased and degraded Boko Haram and those who sponsor it have become.
“We must not fall for this divisive ploy. In our respective spaces, we should understand that these violent extremists are our common enemies, and are blind to religious and political affiliation and socio-economic status.
“Our leaders – religious, political, traditional and all others in positions of influence and authority, must now show leadership and temperance in their utterances and actions. Doing otherwise will be acting the scripts and playing into the hands of these fanatics seeking to divide us and pitch us against each other.
The party commiserated with families and religious organisations, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Catholic Church whose members have been recently targeted and killed by the terrorists as well as of the places of worship attacked.
