The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has labelled President Bola Tinubus speech to the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters as a distraction.
In an issued statement yesterday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the speech failed to address the protesters concerns.
With economic hardships worsening, many Nigerians are struggling to afford basic necessities. In reaction to these conditions, youths began protests last Thursday, which have continued through Saturday in cities such as Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, and others, demanding an end to hunger and poor governance.
In a nationwide broadcast yesterday, President Tinubu urged the protesters to stop their demonstrations. He explained that removing the fuel subsidy and unifying the foreign exchange systems were necessary steps to prevent exploitation by smugglers and rent-seekers.
Tinubu added that these measures also stopped unjust subsidies benefiting neighbouring countries at Nigerians expense, which had severely weakened the nations economy, and emphasised that the Nigerian economy had been stagnant for decades due to numerous misalignments that hindered its growth.
However, Ologunagba stated that Tinubus speech clearly demonstrates the All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations insensitivity towards Nigerians and the dire situation in the country.
The statement read in part: 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. Presidents 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 an 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 APCs 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.
Similarly, the 2023 presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubus speech to the #EndBadGovernance protesters, calling it hollow and inadequate in addressing the suffering of Nigerians.
In a statement issued yesterday, Atiku pointed out that President Tinubus broadcast overlooks the severe economic challenges that Nigerian families have faced since the start of his administration.
We urge the President and his team to own up to their failures over the past 14 months and abandon the absurd theory that the protests are orchestrated by the opposition. This administration has failed on all fronts”.
