…Blames fuel subsidy removal for economic hardship, naira collapse
A prominent figure in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he described as its failure to honour its 2023 campaign commitments, urging Nigerians not to reward what he termed “poor performance” in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Oguntoyinbo encouraged Nigerians to objectively evaluate the records of political parties and their candidates over the past two years before deciding who to support at the polls.
He recalled that the APC, during the 2023 election campaigns, pledged to improve living conditions for ordinary citizens but had instead, in his view, made life more difficult for the majority of Nigerians.
“The ruling APC at the centre raised the hopes of Nigerians through its Renewed Hope Agenda, but people are now living hopeless lives because of the economic downturn,” Oguntoyinbo said.
He expressed concern over the removal of fuel subsidies without the provision of adequate relief measures, noting that this had driven fuel prices beyond the reach of most Nigerians, sparked inflation, and significantly weakened the Naira.
“The party said the poor would be allowed to breathe, but in the last two years, it has painfully suffocated them. An average Nigerian is living a hopeless life; workers’ wages can no longer sustain even the simplest standard of living,” he stated.
Oguntoyinbo appealed to voters to reject any political party or candidate that fails to meet their obligations, insisting that the 2027 election must serve as a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s democracy.
He called for heightened public awareness, adding that citizens must demand transparency, competence, and genuine commitment from those seeking to govern.
