President Bola Tinubu’s 64th Independence Day speech has ignited a fiery response from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the opposition party condemning the address as “another lethargic and windy rhetoric of false performance claims and empty promises”.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the speech as a “complete waste of time” for failing to tackle pressing economic and security issues.
In his national broadcast, President Tinubu emphasized the need for reform to ensure Nigeria’s progress and prosperity, warning against continuing with business as usual, which he claimed could lead to national collapse. He highlighted his administration’s achievements, including attracting over $30 billion in foreign direct investment in the past year.
However, the PDP slammed the speech for downplaying critical issues such as economic hardship, unemployment, and extreme poverty. The party expressed shock that the President’s address ignored widespread economic hardship and hunger, which had previously sparked public protests.
*PDP’s Key Concerns:*
– _Economic Hardship_: Rising fuel prices and unemployment contradict Tinubu’s assurances of micro-economic improvement and lower living costs.
– _Lack of Engagement_: The President should engage with citizens, particularly youth in urban areas, to understand their true circumstances.
– _Erosion of Democracy_: The speech omitted any mention of electoral credibility and citizens’ rights under APC governance.
In response, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the PDP’s reaction as frustration over the ruling party’s achievements. He stated that since the PDP’s departure, sanity has returned to Nigeria, and peace has been restored to the country and Abuja.
The PDP’s reaction reflects deep dissatisfaction with the APC’s handling of national issues and calls for genuine public engagement. The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between Nigeria’s ruling and opposition parties.
