Following President Bola Tinubu’s 69th Independence Day speech, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Mustapha Mona Audu has endorsed the Renewed Hope agenda but raised concerns about the President’s team’s ability to implement the plan effectively and meet the administration’s goals.
President Tinubu had delivered a national address in honour of Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary, asserting that his reforms were producing positive outcomes. However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) criticized the speech, alleging that it was rife with inaccuracies and failed to address the country’s urgent problems.
APC Chieftain Audu conveyed his endorsement of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, characterising it as commendable. Nevertheless, he expressed apprehensions regarding the President’s team’s capacity to execute the plan effectively, challenging their ability to achieve the administration’s objectives.
He pointed out that a realistic and statistical assessment of their ministries raises questions about their job creation, revenue generation, and income production.
“Delivering speeches is one thing; fulfilling promises is another entirely,” he remarked.
“In reality, the truth about it is that Nigerians are not feeling the Renewed Hope agenda- that’s just the truth of it,” Audu stated. “Two protests in the space of three months shows us that we’re not actually performing as we promised Nigerians that we would.”
Furthermore, Audu stated anticipations for at least a “cabinet reshuffle” and pointed out that over half of the cabinet members are underperforming and largely unknown. “It’s not about having just people occupying positions. You need people with vision, people with understanding, people who know what to do and how to go about doing it,” he emphasized.
“Let’s hit the nail on the head, and let’s be direct. First of all, we expect a cabinet reshuffle, at the very least.
“A lot of non-performing members of the cabinet…More than 50% of the cabinet are non-performing. No one knows who they are, and it’s quite unfortunate. We expected so much more, so we expect that from Mr President.”
He acknowledged that the nation’s economy is not yet where it should be, highlighting the importance of certain policies like the removal of fuel subsidies and currency stabilization. However, he criticized other policies and the individuals responsible for their implementation, stating that they lack the necessary understanding and effectiveness to properly execute these measures.
Addressing the September 9 Maiduguri flooding disaster, the APC Chieftain expressed disappointment over the lack of a permanent solution, emphasizing the need for innovative leaders capable of fulfilling the Renewed Hope Agenda, stating, “You’re looking at existential issues like the drying out of Lake Chad basin, and you have Maiduguri that is less than 200 kilometers away from Lake Chad. Why can’t you build a channel?
“By building a channel from Maiduguri to Lake Chad, you’ve solved several problems; you’ve created new businesses; there can never be flooding again. It’s a base model for starting projects.”
During a speech at the State House celebrating Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced a 30-day national youth conference. This initiative aims to tackle various issues faced by Nigerian youth, including opportunities, unemployment, social justice, and education.
Audu praised the Youth conference initiative, stating, “I believe it’s a very laudable idea.” He emphasized that most protesters, regardless of political alignment, are young people and need a platform to discuss their challenges and brainstorm inclusive solutions; however, he noted that while he has attended similar conferences in the past, they often fail to achieve their intended goals. This track record makes it difficult for him to reassure young people that their discussions will result in concrete actions. “We must see not only promises but deliverables,” he insisted. “The easiest way to succeed is to simply do the job.”
Frances Ibiefo
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