BAGA MASSACRE: CPC Speak

Opposition party says recipe for unqualified peace efforts.

The Congress for Progressives Change, CPC, has expressed outrage over the killing of about 185 people and destruction of property in Baga, Borno State, likening it to the 1999 invasion of Odi Community in Bayelsa State by the military, authorized by former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The party said the ecological disruption and huge humanitarian calamity have attracted so much attention that it is no longer necessary to apportion blame.

“The CPC, as a party, is outraged by the unfortunate incident of the wanton destruction of lives and property that attended the face-off between insurgents believed to be Boko Haramand soldiers of the Joint Task Force in Baga, Borno State,” the party said in a statement by its spokesman, Rotimi Fashakin, on Tuesday.

“The attendant ecological disruption and huge humanitarian calamity had attracted so much attention (international and local) that clearly obviates the need for the continuous passing the buck.”

CPC noted that though President Goodluck Jonathan has called for investigation into the incident, it has become necessary to pursue peace in the troubled area.

It asked the Federal Government not only to rebuild the houses destroyed during the incident, but also embark on massive rehabilitation efforts for the displaced victims.

The opposition parties said, “True, the President has called for the probe of this needless carnage, which euphemistically means stalemated action on the matter; the imperative of pursuing the Peace option is sorer than before.

“The houses destroyed must be rebuilt by the Federal Government whilst massive rehabilitative efforts are put in place for the displaced victims of the combatants’ rage.”

CPC recalled that “It was a PDP-led Federal Government that authorized the invasion of Odi on 20thNovember, 1999 on the pretense of redressing the killing of some Policemen in the Community.”

It added, “We have equally noted that this template of excessive force that falls far short from Internationally-accepted rules of engagement for internal peace enforcement – which successive PDP-led administrations have stridently followed – is no longer fashionable in civilized order of Human governments.

“We remind the Federal Government to ensure that Peace is the pre-eminent watch-word for military engagement within the Nation-space.”

The party commiserated with the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the wounded.

Source: Premium Times