- Yusuf Oketola
The Peoples Democratic Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Labour Party have slammed the performance of President Bola Tinubu as he clocked 100 days in office.
The parties noted that the Tinubu-led Federal Government has failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians. They also flayed the claim of the FG that it inherited a battered economy.
Recall that the Federal Government earlier on Tuesday said that President Bola Tinubu inherited a battered economy but has changed the narrative within 100 days in office.
While describing the fuel subsidy that was removed as “A Sword of Damocles that hung over Nigeria for decades”, the FG said that although the challenges had been tough, the President had planted the seeds of national transformation.
“This period may be challenging, but the President has planted the seeds of national transformation, growth, and all-round development. Our appeal to Nigerians and the labour unions are to continue to support the government and show more understanding. We must continue to work hard and confidently press forward to the glory of a greater Nigeria,” the government said.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris stated these in a statement titled, “President Tinubu’s 100 days of steady progress and national rejuvenation.”
Idris said, “Since May 29, President Tinubu has been at his duty post, working assiduously to deliver on his campaign promises as enunciated in his Renewed Hope Agenda for a better and
greater Nigeria.
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“The President began the journey to rebuild our battered economy, realising that our country was in a difficult situation with our public debts – both local and foreign – coupled with an unsustainable fuel subsidy regime that created, for several decades, a galling hole in our public finance, rendering the three tiers of government insolvent and incapable of meeting the needs of the citizens.
“President Tinubu took a bold and courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy to avert a national economic catastrophe of epic proportions. Fuel subsidy was a Sword of Damocles that hung over Nigeria for decades. It stunted growth and set the country a-borrowing.
“In addition to subsidy removal, President Tinubu took further steps to unify the multiple foreign exchange markets. While these two vital steps to save the country from hitting the rocks brought momentary discomfort to Nigerians, President Tinubu has never failed in his appeal to Nigerians to see the current inconveniences as a price we must all pay to save our country from disappearing.
“Considering the people’s pains, the government rolled out intervention programmes to help cushion the unintended negative impacts of the reforms. These interventions include working out a minimum wage and salary increase, supporting states and local governments to enable them to cater to the most vulnerable among us, and providing fertilisers to farmers, grains to households, and cash transfers to people with low incomes. In addition to these, there are plans to roll out over 11,000 CNG buses for affordable public transportation among others.
“While striving to reduce the impact of the high cost of living for the citizens, President Tinubu has focused on redirecting our economy and removing the impediments to productivity and competitiveness so that the real sector can grow and create millions of decent jobs that are essential for long-term economic growth.”
However, speaking with Journalists, the Deputy Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Timothy Osadolor slammed the comment credited to the information and finance ministers on the state of the economy.
Recall that Finance Minister, Wale Edun recently stated that President Tinubu inherited a battered economy, adding that the last time the country witnessed economic development was during the administration of ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan.
Although PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba and his deputy, Ibrahim Abdullahi were unavailable for comment, Osadolor said Mr Edun’s comment is a veiled excuse that the Tinubu-led government is already offering reasons for nonperformance.
He said, “President Tinubu should bury his head in shame. He was the national leader of the All Progressives Congress that brought about the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari which turned out to be a monumental failure.
“Like Buhari, Tinubu has started cluelessly, subjecting millions of Nigerians to untold hardship. They have sent Edun to make excuses for them but Nigerians should be aware that the man who asked them to blame him if Buhari failed is already out to tell them that he has nothing to offer.
“He campaigned for Buhari twice and today he is telling us that his predecessor handed him a battered economy. This is a shameful admission but Nigerians are not fooled.
“If Edun does not know what to do, he can as well resign his appointment. Nigerians are tired of excuses from leaders who promised heaven on earth but are already overwhelmed by the task of governance.”
Also, speaking with newsmen, the National Auditor of the NNPP, Barrister Ladipo Johnson flayed the claim of the APC-led FG that it inherited a battered economy.
Johnson noted that the APC could not have inherited a battered economy, noting that the party should stop giving untenable excuses.
Johnson said what Nigerians want to hear are solutions that will bring stability to the economy in the medium and long, adding that the twin policies of floating the naira happening at the end of the fuel subsidy have led to instant difficulties for the common man.
“We wish them well for the sake of the country and the people,” he said.
In his reaction, the National Legal Adviser of the Labour Party, Kehinde Edun slammed the FG over claims that President Bola Tinubu took a ‘bold and courageous decision’ to remove the contentious fuel subsidy to avert national catastrophe.
The LP chieftain while reacting to Tuesday’s statement issued by the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, titled “President Tinubu’s 100 days of steady progress and national rejuvenation” said there was nothing courageous about the decision of the president.
The minister had stated in the statement that Tinubu inherited a battered economy but noted that the president had courageously changed the narrative in his first 100 days in office.
But Edun slammed the claim, saying there was nothing courageous in the pains and agony the president’s hasty decision has brought on the masses.
“What is courageous in the harsh decision he took that is bringing pain to Nigerians all over the country? And it appears like they were prepared for it. Obviously, it wasn’t a well-thought-out decision. It was taken in a rush and, of course, they were at a loss when they realised their mistake. Nigerians can now see they were not even prepared for the fallout or consequence of that action. They simply cannot defend it.
“What the minister was saying is sheer sycophancy. Which courageous step? They are just playing to the gallery. All they have done so far is only pain and no gain. How often do we even take the office of the minister of information seriously in this country? What they must have been noted for is just propaganda,” he said.
