PDP schools Tinubu, asks him to forget statistics and engage Nigerians directly over economic hardship

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s 64th Independence Day speech, calling it a “complete waste of time” that fails to address the numerous economic and security issues plaguing Nigeria.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said this in a statement, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

The party urged President Tinubu to engage with Nigerians directly, rather than relying on statistics from his officials.

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“Visit the markets or take a walk with the youth on the streets of any city in Nigeria to properly appreciate the real situation of the citizens,” Ologunagba advised.

In his speech, President Tinubu emphasized the need for reform to ensure progress and prosperity, highlighting his administration’s efforts to reform the political economy and defense architecture. He touted the country’s foreign direct investments, which exceeded $30 billion in the last year, and the reduction of the debt service ratio from 97% to 68% ¹.

However, the PDP criticized the speech for ignoring the struggles of millions of Nigerians, including widespread economic hardship, unemployment, extreme poverty, and hunger. Ologunagba noted that the President’s speech downplayed these critical issues, which prompted Nigerians to protest in August.

Ologunagba said, “Nigerians are appalled that the President’s speech was a complete waste of time as it did not address issues or proffer any solution to the myriads of economic and security problems created by the APC government, for which Nigerians are hurting.

“President Tinubu has by this speech further confirmed the insensitivity of his administration towards the plight and demands by Nigerians which authenticates PDP’s position that there is no hope in sight under the overtly clueless, insensitive and unresponsive APC-led government.

“The failure of the speech to respond to the cries of millions of Nigerians that President Tinubu eases their suffering by reviewing life-suffocating policies of his government also validates concerns in the public space of emerging totalitarianism where certain individuals or groups of individuals are benefitting from the travail of the people.

“It is indeed shocking that Mr President’s speech practically trivialized the very grave issues of pervasive economic hardship, unemployment, acute poverty, widespread hunger and starvation in our country- for which Nigerians took to the streets in August this year- by claiming that about 10 per cent of Nigerians have been plunged into hunger when confirmed reports show that over 100 million Nigerians can no longer afford their daily meals and other necessities of life under the APC watch.”

He further said, “Equally appalling is Mr President’s irreconcilable assurances of micro-economic improvement, lower cost of living and food sufficiency, when in reality his administration has failed to lower the price of fuel; the key driver of our nation’s economy, failed to inject resources into the productive sector to boost employment, stem the slide of the Naira and made no tangible investment in food production in any part of the country.”

He added that the failure of Mr President to listen to Nigeria to reduce the price of fuel, create employment and lift the value of the Naira by ending the profligacy in his government and direct resources to jumpstart our ailing productive sector shows that the APC administration is completely disconnected with Nigerians, especially the youths.

The PDP further noted that, from the speech, it was clear that the APC-led administration is determined to stifle our nation’s democracy; the very fundamental of any independent nation as it is loudly silent on the erosion of credible election and constantly attacks on constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens in our country under its watch

The party urged Nigerians to remain calm despite their disappointment, just as it counselled President Tinubu to visit the markets or take a walk with the youths on the street of any city in Nigeria to properly appreciate the real situation of the citizens rather than relying on fabricated statistics by officials of his government.

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But in reaction, the APC described the PDP as a frustrated party seeking relevance.

In a statement issued by its Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, the ruling party stated that the PDP’s reaction stemmed from its frustration over the ruling party achieving what it could not.

He stated “For the PDP, rather than burying their heads in shame, they claimed the President’s speech is empty.

What the PDP should understand is that since their departure from the political scene, sanity has returned to Nigeria, and peace has been restored to the country and to Abuja, the seat of power.

“Since the PDP left office, the situation has improved day by day under the APC government.During the PDP’s time, there was no peace in Abuja, making it difficult for a sitting President to address the nation from Eagle Square.

“Under an APC-led federal government, Nigerians are experiencing peace of mind. Therefore, the PDP’s reaction to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s speech is nothing but an afterthought; they are merely reacting because they see what they failed to achieve being accomplished by the APC government. By the grace of God, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will move Nigeria forward.”

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