The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s New Year message, describing it as “hollow” and lacking concrete solutions to tackle the country’s issues of unemployment and hunger. The party argued that the speech failed to provide a clear roadmap for addressing the critical challenges facing Nigerians today.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba condemned the president’s speech as “self-centered” and out of touch with the harsh economic realities faced by citizens across Nigeria. Ologunagba said the speech was disappointing because it did not present any clear policies or measures to alleviate the suffering of ordinary Nigerians who continue to battle high unemployment rates and food insecurity.
The PDP accused President Tinubu’s administration of being indifferent to the struggles of the populace, highlighting that the speech failed to offer any practical solutions to critical national issues. The statement read: “Nigerians were appalled that despite calls from the PDP and well-meaning citizens, President Tinubu’s New Year speech did not articulate any specific direction for the country or proffer solutions to the multitude of problems that have plagued us under APC’s misrule.”
“President Tinubu’s speech once again underscores the APC’s insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians. It failed to present any concrete strategy for reducing the price of petroleum products, tackling widespread hunger, or revamping the country’s dying productive sectors,” the PDP spokesperson further lamented.
PDP[/figure]
The PDP further criticized Tinubu for not addressing key sectors such as the cost of fuel, food security, electricity, infrastructure development, and job creation in his speech. Ologunagba pointed out that the address lacked a comprehensive policy framework to support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) or address the growing unemployment crisis, which remains a significant concern for many Nigerians.
The opposition party argued that Nigerians should not be paying more than ₦350 per litre for petrol, asserting that with proper management of the nation’s resources, fuel prices could be drastically reduced. Ologunagba emphasized, “With transparent resource management, utilizing economic potential, and effective border policing, petrol prices should be significantly lower than they are today.”
Additionally, the PDP accused the Tinubu administration of lacking both the competence and the commitment to manage the country’s resources effectively for the benefit of the people. The party further rejected President Tinubu’s claim that Nigerians have confidence in his leadership, asserting that the widespread dissatisfaction among the populace paints a starkly different picture.
“Many Nigerians no longer have faith in Tinubu’s leadership, and they are eagerly awaiting the next election to end the hardships caused by the APC’s governance,” Ologunagba concluded, calling for a governance approach that prioritizes the welfare and security of the people above all else.
The PDP urged President Tinubu to focus on the nation’s economic recovery, security, and the needs of ordinary Nigerians in order to restore public trust and confidence in his leadership. The party also called for a more responsive government that aligns with the aspirations and expectations of the people.
