The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent media chat, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of being disconnected from the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, expressed disappointment with the President’s failure to address the worsening economic conditions faced by citizens, blaming the government’s poorly implemented policies for the hardship.
Ologunagba said, “The media session only serves to confirm the APC administration’s insensitivity to the severe hardship and suffering being experienced by Nigerians due to the party’s misguided and anti-people policies.”
A key point of contention was President Tinubu’s defense of the controversial removal of the fuel subsidy, despite the lack of measures to cushion the effects of the decision.
The PDP argued that the policy has resulted in a devastating impact on the productive sector, rising living costs, and deepening poverty for millions of Nigerians.
The PDP also took issue with the President’s admission that the government has been unable to properly police the nation’s borders, allowing the smuggling of petroleum products.
The party stated that this oversight highlights the APC administration’s failure to effectively govern.
The party further criticized the government for its inability to account for any savings resulting from the subsidy removal while Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of economic hardship.
Issues such as the struggling productive sector, the depreciating Naira, inflation reaching 34.6%, and high unemployment rates were all cited as evidence of the government’s failure to improve the lives of citizens.
In addition, Ologunagba pointed to the tragic food stampedes that led to the deaths of over 80 Nigerians as a direct result of the current administration’s policies.
He also took issue with the President’s claims of progress in road safety, contrasting this with the ongoing crisis of banditry, kidnapping, and poor infrastructure across the country.
The PDP lamented the APC’s neglect of key sectors such as agriculture, electricity, and small and medium-scale enterprises, which are vital to the country’s economic recovery.
The party urged President Tinubu to visit ordinary Nigerians by traveling from Abuja to Lagos by road or visiting markets to see firsthand the dire conditions faced by the people, instead of relying on reports from government officials.
Ologunagba concluded by calling for urgent action from the government to address the ongoing suffering and to restore public trust in the administration.
