The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday described President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide address as diversionary and that it failed to address the issues canvased by protesters.
The party, while reacting to the president’s nationwide broadcast to address the demands by protesters, said the speech failed to meet the demands of the protesters.
“The speech by President Bola Tinubu over the on-going protests in the country clearly confirms the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration’s insensitivity towards Nigerians and the very precarious situation in the country.
Debo Ologunagba, the party’s national publicity secretary, said the PDP is “appalled that despite the fact that it took President Tinubu the prodding of the PDP to speak to the nation, it is distressing that the speech failed to offer any concrete measure to address the excruciating hardship in the country.
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“Mr. President’s speech failed to respond to the demand by the citizens for immediate measures to reduce the price of petroleum products, halt the fall of the Naira and urgent intervention in the provision of food items to starving Nigerians”
The protesters had demanded a reduction in the price of Petroleum product, reversal of the power tariffs recently increased by the federal government, amongst others
The party said it was equally shocking that the speech did not order an investigation into the brutal killing of unarmed Nigerians by certain unscrupulous operatives of the APC-controlled security agencies while demanding for good governance, protection, security and welfare, which are the primary purpose of the government.
“Instead, the speech dwelt on APC’s counter-productive action of disregarding the feelings and pain of the people by focusing on self-praise, claims of imaginary achievements and empty projections in the face of apparent and obvious failure of the APC in every aspect of governance.
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The PDP said the speech has only helped to reinforce public apprehension that the APC administration was uncaring and impervious to the suffering and pain of millions of Nigerians, particularly the youth whose dreams, hope and aspirations were being dashed by the APC.
“It is clear that the APC administration is overwhelmed and has no answers to the myriads of problems occasioned by its anti-people policies that are suffocating life in the country.”
The PDP said the ruling APC must admit failure and be willing to accept alternative views and suggestions at this moment recognising that what Nigerians need now is solution and not rhetoric.
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“Our party calls on President Tinubu to come to terms with the fact that the nation is in dire straits under his watch.
“He should address the demands of the people, particularly to reduce the cost of petroleum products, stabilise the naira and take immediate steps towards the provision of food items to Nigerians.
President Tinubu should cut the size of governance, expenditure on luxury items and free more resources for immediate intervention towards the wellbeing of Nigerians.”
