…Be patient and ready to make sacrifices — President Tinubu, APC urge Nigerians
…Tinubu’s policies are anti-people — PDP
…Policies are making life harder for Nigerians — LP
…PDP lacks capacity to achieve what Tinubu achieved in three weeks — Presidency
By Ibiyemi Mathew and Joel Oladele, Abuja
The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the two leading opposition parties have taken different positions on the impact of the policies being reeled out by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Recall that the World Bank in its Nigeria Development Update June edition released yesterday predicted an increase in the level of poverty in Nigeria following the impact of the policies of the President Tinubu administration.
President Tinubu speaking to journalists after observing the Eid-el-Kabir prayers at Dodan Barracks prayer ground in Lagos stated that Nigerians will have to make sacrifices.
According to him, Allah would not burden the country with what it cannot bear.
In the same vein, the ruling party yesterday appealed to Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of patience and sacrifice towards a better nation.
Felicitating with Nigerians to commemorate the Eid-el-Kabir celebration via a press statement on Wednesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Barr. Felix Morka said Eid-el-Kabir is a highly symbolic Islamic tradition and celebration that commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah’s command.
He added that it also underscores Allah’s infinite capacity and willingness to divinely provide for mankind.
Morka also reassured Nigerians of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to his Renewed Hope agenda which is clearly evident in many of the decisive steps he has been taking since the inception of the administration.
“This year’s celebration remarkably coincides with a period in our nation’s history when our dear President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is taking some courageous and decisive steps to reposition our beloved country for rapid economic growth and wholesome greatness in line with his administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.
“We urge Nigerians to subscribe to the virtues of sacrifice and patience as we soldier on in our quest for a better Nigeria.
“We also enjoin our Muslim compatriots to continue to show compassion towards the needy and less-priviledged among us as they celebrate,” the statement read.
Reacting to the alleged anti-people policies by Tinubu’s government, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake said, “but they (PDP) will say that, they will even say worse. That is very mild coming from them.”
“We expect them to say worse because all the time they were in government they lacked the gut, the mental capacity, the physical resourcefulness and the vision to do what the government has done or accomplished within short weeks.
“What they could not do in 16 years of holding the presidency of this country Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has done it within three short weeks. So,what do you expect them to say?
“They lacked that mental capacity, the physical wherewithal, the managerial acumen to achieve those bold goals, so they have to be envious. So, it is normal,” he said.
Meanwhile the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh in an interview with journalist said, “it is unfortunate that this APC administration which is still struggling for legitimacy in court, has inflicted pain and suffering on Nigerians just under one month since assuming power albeit temporarily.
“This is an administration which has supervised increases in the pump price of petroleum products, electricity tariffs, vehicle registration among others, but has refused to cut the cost of governance.
“President Bola Tinubu just returned from his foreign business/ private visit and was welcomed by a convoy of over 100 vehicles fueled by tax payers money.
“We are certain a long list of taxes will soon follow just to raise funds in order to maintain the lifestyles of those in power to the detriment of ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
Obiora added that the current “administration’s policies has so far revealed a desire of the ruling party to make life harder for ordinary Nigerians because more citizens will certainly fall below the poverty line as more and more jobs are being lost and businesses are going under as a result of rising cost of transportation and energy.”
The acting national secretary implored Nigerians not to despair and remain hopeful noting that there is light at the end of the tunnel and justice will prevail.