PDP expresses fear over shooting in Aso Rock as Aisha Buhari, aides clash

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed worry over reported shooting in Aso Rock and security breaches within the precincts of the Presidential villa over disputes between family members of the First Lady and officials working for President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The PDP is deeply worried that the protracted spat between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and aides of President Muhammadu Buhari has now degenerated into violent combats, raids and free use of firearms within the Presidential villa”, PDP said in as statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan.

The party described report of shooting in Aso Rock as distressing, and that it was so worrisome that  Mr. President’s family were at the scene of the assault against one of President Buhari’s aides, during which the First Lady’s security details were alleged to have resorted to the use of firearms.

“Our party is disturbed by such ugly situation in the Buhari Presidency, which has already heightened apprehensions in the public space over the apparent failure of security architecture and central command system in the presidency leading to such reckless and irresponsible breaches”, PDP said, adding that the chaotic situation in the Presidential villa only points to the failure by President Buhari to provide a leadership that can guarantee orderliness in governance and effectively ensure the security of our nation.

The PDP noted that such leadership failure at the highest level has further exposed why Nigeria has been bedeviled by myriads of security and economic problems under President Buhari’s watch in the last five years.

More worrisome, the party pointed is failure by the Buhari Presidency to speak out on the shooting in Aso Rock so as to reassure Nigerians and douse the tension in the polity; especially at this critical time when Nigeria is facing serious security challenges.

The PDP therefore called on President Buhari to take immediate steps to restore order in his Presidency and shield the security system from the division and power tussle among persons close to him.

“Our party also demands for an immediate inquest into the security breaches as well as the alleged violation of COVID-19 ban on inter-state travels by officials and relations of Mr. President, which was reported to be part of the immediate causes of latest disturbances in the Presidential villa.

“Furthermore, the PDP urges the National Assembly to save the nation by wading into the persistent infighting in the Buhari Presidency especially as those in charge of the Presidential villa has not demonstrated the required capacity to engender the needed orderliness for productive governance”, the party said.