The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has directed criticism towards President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging them to respect the democratic rights of Nigerians to protest against unjust policies and economic hardships.
The opposition party condemned what it termed as attempts by the Presidency and the APC to politicize recent protests against the prevailing economic challenges in Nigeria. According to the PDP, these protests reflect the growing discontent among Nigerians due to worsening insecurity and the adverse effects of policies implemented by the Tinubu-led APC administration.
Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, expressed these sentiments in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday. He criticized the APC’s response to the protests, describing it as insensitive and dismissive of the suffering experienced by ordinary citizens.
Ologunagba highlighted various economic indicators to underscore the impact of what he referred to as “thoughtless policies” by the Tinubu administration. He pointed to issues such as skyrocketing inflation, currency devaluation, rising unemployment, and the exodus of businesses from Nigeria as evidence of the dire situation faced by many Nigerians.
The statement also accused the APC of widespread corruption, alleging the mismanagement of government funds amounting to trillions of Naira. Ologunagba criticized the administration’s handling of security challenges, emphasizing the need for concrete action to address terrorism and violence in the country.
Furthermore, the PDP called out President Tinubu for what it described as a lack of urgency and empathy towards addressing national issues, particularly while on vacation abroad.
In conclusion, the PDP urged the APC to acknowledge the failures of its policies and take immediate steps to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians. It called for a more responsive and accountable approach from the government to address the concerns raised by citizens.