John Alechenu
The People's Democratic Party (PDP), has dismissed Sunday's national broadcast by President Bola Tinubu as diversionary and insensitive to the plight of Nigeria's majority.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, said this in a statement, in Abuja, yesterday.
He explained that the president failed to address the real issues bothering Nigerians which is the high cost of living especially the rising cost of food items and the volatility of the local currency against major currencies which has made planning almost impossible.
Ologunagba said, "PDP asserts that the speech by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the on-going protests in the country clearly confirms the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration's insensitivity towards Nigerians and the very precarious situation in the country.
"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 for good governance, protection, security and welfare, which are the primary purpose of government.
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"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 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, hope and aspiration are being dashed by the APC.
"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.
"President Tinubu should cut the size of governance, expenditure on luxury items and free more resources for immediate intervention towards the wellbeing of Nigerians."
