Herdsmen killings: Calling Buhari a murderer is grossly disrespectful – Presidency

Briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, expressed the Presidency’s displeasure over the ‘murderer’ tag given to the President Buhari.

Garba Shehu who cited the Rwanda example, said those fanning the embers of discord in the country must remember that hate speeches may lead to loss of lives and properties. President Buhari’s aide who also raised concerns over some media reports on the recent herdsmen killings, describing them as unfortunate, told newsmen;

“Those beating the gongs of war and fanning the embers of discord must remember what prevailed in Rwanda before the genocide of the early 90s, during which hundreds of thousands of lives were lost as a result of consistent hate speech spewing from that country’s media. .We must learn to express our grievances and criticisms without resorting to gutter language or to name calling, and the press has a responsibility to maintain that, even if it means calling their columnists to order. . 

 Calling him (Buhari) a murderer is not only grossly disrespectful but unfair, especially when the President has written a letter to the Senate detailing his efforts to quell the crisis in Benue State. . The President had also dispatched the Minister of Interior and the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the aftermath of the unfortunate incident, and receiving a direct briefing from the IG the following day.” Recall that 73 bodies of victims of Fulani herdsmen attack in Benue state, were laid to rest in a mass burial service on January 11th.