David Pilling Doesn’t Know Enough To Criticize Buhari’s Government – FG

The Presidency has come out to rebuke the Financial Times’ Africa Editor, David Pilling over an article on the Buhari regime.

FG recently had its say via a statement, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, David Pilling is not qualified enough to make such statements about the current regime since he jets briefly in and out of Nigeria on the same British Airways flight he criticises.

FG added that it is convenient for David to highlight several negatives while leaving out the security gains made over two Presidential terms.

His words, “The caricature of a government sleepwalking into disaster (What is Nigeria’s government for? January 31, 2022) is predictable from a correspondent who jets briefly in and out of Nigeria on the same British Airways flight he so criticises.”

“He highlights rising banditry in my country as proof of such slumber.”

“What he leaves out are the security gains made over two Presidential terms.”

“The first comprehensive plan to deal with decades-old clashes between nomadic herders and sedentary farmers–experienced across the width of the Sahel–has been introduced: pilot ranches are reducing the competition for water and land that drove past tensions.”

“Banditry grew out of such clashes. Criminal gangs took advantage of the instability, flush with guns that flooded the region following the Western-triggered implosion of Libya.”

“The situation is grave. Yet as with other challenges, it is one that the government will face down.”