Media Chat: No hope in sight under APC — PDP slams Tinubu
…Says remarks are an attempt to distract from economic failures
…Points to food stampedes as evidence of worsening poverty under apc
…Challenges Tinubu to experience Nigerians’ struggles firsthand with road trip
By Sodiq Adelakun
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent media chat, accusing him of using “fabricated statistics” to mislead Nigerians about the state of the nation’s economy.
The opposition party argued that the president’s claims of economic improvement and progress in road safety starkly contrast with the harsh realities faced by millions of Nigerians.
In a statement issued after the media chat, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the president’s remarks as “insensitive” and a “deliberate attempt to obscure the depth of suffering” under his administration.
The PDP highlighted several key issues, including the ongoing economic crisis, rising insecurity, and the removal of fuel subsidies, which it claimed have worsened the plight of Nigerians.
“The declaration by President Tinubu that he has no regrets over the sudden removal of fuel subsidies confirms the APC’s disconnection from the primary purpose of government: the welfare and security of citizens,” Ologunagba said.
The opposition party also criticised the president for failing to offer any measures to alleviate the rising cost of living, which has left many Nigerians struggling with inflation, unemployment, and diminished purchasing power. The PDP further condemned the president’s defence of the subsidy removal policy, calling it the primary driver of the country’s escalating hardship.
“The failure to cushion the effects of this policy has crippled the productive sector and exacerbated poverty across Nigeria,” the statement added.
At the core of the PDP’s criticism was the president’s assertion that Nigerians are now safer on the roads. The party, however, pointed to the persistent threats of banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery as evidence of deteriorating security conditions.
“It is alarming for President Tinubu to make such claims when the reality of insecurity and dilapidated infrastructure is evident to all Nigerians,” the statement said.
The opposition party challenged the president to experience the conditions he described by undertaking a road trip from Abuja to Lagos.
“If President Tinubu truly believes his own words, he should undertake this journey himself,” the PDP stated.
Furthermore, the PDP raised concerns over the troubling economic indicators under the Tinubu administration, including an inflation rate of 34.6%, an exchange rate of N1,700 per US dollar, and an unemployment rate of 40%.
“Mr. President’s claim that Nigerians are better off is contradicted by the harsh realities on the ground. His government has failed to invest meaningfully in critical sectors such as agriculture, electricity, petroleum, and small businesses, which are the real drivers of economic growth,” Ologunagba added.
The PDP also referred to recent tragic incidents, such as the food stampedes that claimed over 80 lives, as further evidence of worsening poverty and neglect under the APC-led government.
“The widespread food stampedes demonstrate the perilous times our nation faces under this government. Nigerians deserve answers and immediate relief, not fabricated statistics,” the party stated.
In a similar vein, the PDP demanded a full account of the savings from the subsidy removal, questioning the lack of transparency regarding the use of these funds. The party called for the government to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians and implement policies that genuinely address the nation’s challenges.
“There is no hope in sight under the APC. The government must stop misleading Nigerians and start prioritising the welfare of its citizens,” the PDP declared.
