PDP Calls Tinubu’s Speech a Distraction, Ignoring Key Issues

PDP Calls Tinubu’s Speech a Distraction, Ignoring Key Issues

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent address to the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters, labeling it a distraction from the pressing issues.

In a Sunday statement, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba remarked that the President’s speech failed to address the core concerns of the protesters. Amid escalating economic hardships, many Nigerians are struggling to afford basic necessities.

In response to these conditions, youths began protests on Thursday, continuing through Saturday in cities like Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, and others, demanding an end to hunger and poor governance.

In his Sunday broadcast, President Tinubu urged protesters to cease their demonstrations. He justified the removal of the fuel subsidy and unification of foreign exchange systems as necessary steps to prevent exploitation by smugglers and rent-seekers. Tinubu stated that these measures stopped unfair subsidies benefiting neighboring countries at Nigerians’ expense, weakening the national economy. He emphasized that the Nigerian economy had been stagnant for decades due to numerous misalignments hindering growth.

However, Ologunagba argued that Tinubu’s speech highlighted the All Progressives Congress administration’s insensitivity toward Nigerians and the dire situation in the country.

“Our party 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. 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 urgently intervene in the provision of food items to starving Nigerians,” Ologunagba stated.