Labour Party (LP) caucus in the House of Representatives described Tinubu’s one year in office as a reign of economic hardship, insecurity and hopelessness, which, according to the opposition party, negates the “Renewed Hope Agenda” campaign promises of the current administration.
According to a statement signed by the caucus Leader, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, the LP caucus said it is bewildering that the economy of the nation has dangerously continued on a free fall, one year after the inauguration of the current administration.
The statement released in Abuja, on Tuesday, to mark the first year anniversary of the current dispensation said the current state of the economy had cast a cloud of doubt on the capacity of the APC government to rescue the country from the present situation, especially after “the precarious eight years of the past administration, characterised by widespread despair”.
The caucus stated, “After last year’s glitch-determined presidential election, and the legal gymnastics which ratified the indolent behaviour of the electoral umpire, our caucus had taken a backseat, in the patriotic hope that, maybe, just maybe, the beneficiary administration would be able to wrought magic and pull the nation from the precipice of economic annihilation.
“But, as can be obviously felt by the blind, and seen by the deaf, the entire country has, after one year, come to the full and unambiguous understanding of what President Bola Tinubu meant, when he said that his administration would continue with the ‘legacies’ of his predecessor.”
The lawmakers also said, “From 29.9 percent in January – the highest since 1996 – Nigeria’s general inflation rate today stands at 33.20 percent and a poverty rate of 38.9 percent.
“As the nation begins the journey into the second year of this administration, we call on President Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, prioritise on minimising the suffering of Nigerians, by ensuring food security, access to clean water, healthcare and education.
“Tackling poverty and guaranteeing these necessities are pivotal to the sustenance of peace in the nation.”
On its part, PDP declared the last one year under Tinubu as the most challenging in Nigeria’s history since the civil war.
In a statement by its National Publicity to Debo Ologunagba, PDP insisted that the current rising insecurity, excruciating poverty, economic hardship and general despondency in the country, necessitating the fleeing of thousands of Nigerians, especially the youth, from the country further confirmed that there was no hope in sight with APC on the saddle.
Ologunagba said, “It is apparent that inflicting pain and misery on Nigerians remains the policy thrust of successive APC administrations which became heightened by the not well thought-out twin anti-people policies of removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the Naira without due consideration for the citizens’ welfare and security.
“As if these were not enough, the APC administration continues in its anti-people policies in the arbitrary hike in electricity tariff and imposition of multiple taxes on the already impoverished Nigerians with no corresponding tangible development directed towards the welfare of the people.”
According to the PDP, “Instead of addressing the grave economic challenges facing our nation, the APC administration continues to wreck our productive sectors with its ill-advised policies which have resulted in the exit of multinational giants including GlaxoSmithKline, Procter and Gamble, Microsoft among others and massive divestment by major oil and gas companies from our country in the last one year.”
However, PDP commended Nigerians for their steadfastness and urged them not to allow the failures of the APC administration to make them lose hope in democracy and the nation.
Olawale Ajimotokan, Chuks Okocha, Deji Elumoye, Sunday Aborisade, Juliet Akoje and Dike Onwuamaeze
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