The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s speech to the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters as a distraction.
In a statement on Sunday, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba criticized the speech, saying it failed to address the protesters’ concerns.
Amid worsening economic hardships, many Nigerians are struggling to afford basic necessities. In response to these conditions, youths began protests on Thursday, which have continued through Saturday in cities like Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, and others, demanding an end to hunger and poor governance.
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During his Sunday broadcast, President Tinubu urged the protesters to halt their demonstrations. He defended the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange systems as necessary steps to prevent exploitation by smugglers and rent-seekers.
Tinubu argued that these measures also stopped unjust subsidies that were benefiting neighboring countries at the expense of Nigerians, which had severely weakened the nation’s economy.
He further emphasized that the Nigerian economy had been stagnant for decades due to numerous misalignments that hindered its growth.
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However, Ologunagba asserted that Tinubu’s speech clearly demonstrated the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration’s insensitivity towards Nigerians and the dire situation in the country.
The statement reads, “Our party is appalled that despite the fact that it took President Tinubu the prodding of the PDP to speak to the nation, it is distressing that the speech failed to offer any concrete measure to address the excruciating hardship in the country.
“Mr President’s speech failed to respond to the demand by the citizens for immediate measures to reduce the price of petroleum products, halt the fall of the Naira and urgent intervention in the provision of food items to starving Nigerians.
“It is equally shocking that the speech did not order an investigation into the brutal killing of unarmed Nigerians by certain unscrupulous operatives of the APC-controlled security agencies while demanding good governance, protection, security and welfare, which are the primary purposes of government.
“Instead, the speech dwelt on APC’s counter-productive action of disregarding the feelings and pains of the people by focusing on self-praise, claims of imaginary achievements and empty projections in the face of the apparent and obvious failure of the APC in every aspect of governance.
“Such only reinforces public apprehension that the APC administration is uncaring and impervious to the suffering and pains of millions of Nigerians, particularly the youths whose dreams, hopes and aspirations are being dashed by the APC.”
The PDP urged Tinubu to reduce the size of the government and cut spending on luxury items to free up more resources for immediate efforts to improve the well-being of Nigerians.
It continued, “It is clear that the APC administration is overwhelmed and has no answers to the myriads of problems occasioned by its anti-people policies that are suffocating life in the country.
“The APC must admit failure and be willing to accept alternative views and suggestions at this moment recognizing that what Nigerians need now is solution and not rhetoric.
“Our party calls on President Tinubu to come to terms with the fact that the nation is in dire straits under his watch. He should address the demands of the people, particularly to reduce the cost of petroleum products, stabilize the Naira and take immediate steps towards the provision of food items to Nigerians.”
