The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday slammed President Bola Tinubu’s 64th Independence Day speech, calling it a “complete waste of time” that fails to address the numerous economic and security issues plaguing Nigeria.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba described the speech as “lethargic and windy rhetoric” filled with false claims and empty promises.
The party urged President Tinubu to engage with Nigerians directly, rather than relying on statistics from his officials.
“Visit the markets or take a walk with the youth on the streets of any city in Nigeria to properly appreciate the real situation of the citizens,” Ologunagba advised.
In his speech, President Tinubu emphasized the need for reform to ensure progress and prosperity, highlighting his administration’s efforts to reform the political economy and defense architecture. He touted the country’s foreign direct investments, which exceeded $30 billion in the last year, and the reduction of the debt service ratio from 97% to 68% ¹.
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However, the PDP criticized the speech for ignoring the struggles of millions of Nigerians, including widespread economic hardship, unemployment, extreme poverty, and hunger. Ologunagba noted that the President’s speech downplayed these critical issues, which prompted Nigerians to protest in August.
“The failure of the speech to respond to the cries of millions of Nigerians… validates concerns about an emerging totalitarianism where certain individuals or groups benefit from the travails of the people,” Ologunagba stated.
Nigeria’s economic challenges are well-documented, with 32% of the population living in extreme poverty and 40% living below the poverty line of $1.90 per day. The country’s poverty rate is estimated to have reached 38.9% in 2023, with 87 million Nigerians living below the poverty line [6).
“The failure by Mr President to listen to Nigerians and reduce the price of fuel, create employment, and lift the value of the Naira by ending the profligacy in his government and directing resources to jumpstart our ailing productive sector shows that the APC administration is completely disconnected from Nigerians, especially the youth.
“Moreover, from the speech, it is clear that the APC-led administration is determined to stifle our nation’s democracy—the very foundation of any independent nation—as it remains loudly silent on the erosion of credible elections and the constant attacks on the constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens in our country under its watch,” the statement reads.
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