The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared on Tuesday that President Bola Tinubu’s speech on Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day highlighted the “insensitivity” of his administration to the challenges faced by citizens.
In a statement, PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba asserted that the President’s address revealed a lack of hope under the “clueless, unresponsive, and indifferent” leadership of the APC.
“Nigerians are dismayed that the President’s speech was utterly devoid of substance, failing to tackle any pressing issues or offer solutions to the numerous economic and security crises that have emerged under the APC government, which are causing widespread suffering among the populace,” he remarked.
The opposition party contended that the presidential address did not resonate with the concerns of millions of Nigerians, emphasizing that Tinubu neglected to reconsider the “life-choking policies” implemented by his administration.
“It is astonishing that the President’s speech minimized the severe problems of rampant economic difficulty, unemployment, extreme poverty, and widespread hunger that have driven Nigerians to protest in August. His claim that only about 10% of the population is experiencing hunger stands in stark contrast to reports indicating that over 100 million Nigerians are struggling to afford basic necessities,” Ologunagba stated.
He further criticized the President’s contradictory assurances regarding microeconomic improvement, reduced living costs, and food security, arguing that his administration has failed to lower fuel prices—the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy—while neglecting to invest in the productive sector, which is essential for job creation and stabilizing the Naira.
“The President’s refusal to heed the demands of Nigerians for lower fuel prices, job creation, and Naira recovery reveals a stark disconnection between the APC administration and the people, especially the youth,” he added.
Additionally, Ologunagba pointed out that the speech underscored the ruling party’s apparent intent to undermine democracy, as it remained silent on the deterioration of credible elections and ongoing attacks on citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed rights under its governance.
