The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday criticized President Bola Tinubu for allegedly making false claims of achievements in his 64th Independence Day address. The opposition party argued that the President's speech revealed the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) disregard for the struggles faced by Nigerians.
In response, the APC dismissed the PDP's remarks, labeling the opposition party as frustrated and desperate for relevance.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement released on Tuesday, described Tinubu’s address as a “complete waste of time,” noting that it failed to address the pressing economic and security challenges affecting the country.
During his national broadcast, President Tinubu emphasized the need for reforms to ensure Nigeria’s progress and warned that maintaining the status quo could lead to national collapse. He highlighted his administration’s efforts over the past 16 months to reform Nigeria’s political economy and defense sector, noting that they had attracted over $30 billion in foreign direct investment.
However, the PDP condemned the speech for overlooking the economic hardship, unemployment, and poverty plaguing millions of Nigerians. The party described Tinubu’s address as “empty rhetoric,” claiming it further demonstrated the APC’s insensitivity to public suffering.
“The 64th Independence Day speech by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is another display of false performance claims and empty promises,” the PDP stated. It criticized the President for downplaying key issues like the economic crisis and widespread hunger, which had previously led to protests.
The PDP also challenged Tinubu’s assertions of economic improvements, pointing out that rising fuel prices and unemployment contradicted the President’s claims of better living conditions. The party called on Tinubu to engage directly with the public, urging him to visit markets and interact with young Nigerians to gain a clearer understanding of the country's realities.
Additionally, the PDP expressed concern over the APC's governance, accusing the ruling party of undermining democracy. They noted the absence of any mention of electoral credibility and citizens’ rights in Tinubu’s speech, further criticizing the government's approach.
In response, APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the PDP's criticism as the result of frustration over the ruling party's successes. Ibrahim stated that since the PDP left office, peace and stability had returned to Nigeria, particularly in Abuja.
