The Peoples Democratic Party said the New Year speech shows that President Bola Tinubu is disconnected from reality and unconcerned with the hardship Nigerians are going through.
In a statement on Wednesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, asserted that there is no hope for the nation under the leadership of the All Progressives Congress.
President Tinubu in his speech on Wednesday, presented bold plans aimed at reducing inflation, stabilizing the naira, and driving economic growth.
He outlined steps to achieve these goals, such as enhancing local food production, expanding the manufacturing of key medicines, and improving access to credit through the creation of the National Credit Guarantee company.
The President stated “We are resolute in our ambition to reduce inflation from its current high of 34.6 per cent to 15 per cent. With diligent work and God’s help, we will achieve this goal and provide relief to all our people.”
Reacting, Ologunagba stated “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2025 New Year Day address further confirms its position and that of most Nigerians that there is no hope in sight for the nation under his administration.
“The Party describes the speech as a self-satisfying posturing which further validates the notorious fact that the Tinubu-led APC administration is completely disconnected and unconcerned with the hardship Nigerians are going through as a result of the ill-implemented policies and gross mismanagement of resources under the President’s watch.
“Nigerians were appalled that despite the prodding by the PDP and well-meaning citizens, President Tinubu’s New Year speech did not articulate any specific direction for the nation or proffer solution to the myriad of problems caused by APC’s misrule.
“President Tinubu’s speech again underlines APC’s insensitivity to the anguish of Nigerians by failing to present any definite policy roadmap towards reducing the price of petroleum products, addressing the widespread hunger in the land and revamping our ailing productive sector.”
The opposition party stated that if the APC administration truly had the welfare of Nigerians in mind, the New Year address would have included clear statements regarding fuel prices.
The statement continued “The speech did not articulate any solution-based direction for the critical sectors of electricity, oil and gas, road infrastructure, food production among other areas that are fundamental to the wellbeing of citizens. It was also pathetically devoid of a precise plan to address unemployment through strategic investment to stimulate multisectoral Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the country.
“If indeed the APC administration has the interest of Nigerians at heart, the New Year address would have made definite pronouncements on the price of fuel especially given that with a deft, transparent and innovative management of resources, economic potentials, comparative advantage, national refining capacity and effective policing of our borders, Nigerians should not pay more than N350 per liter for petrol within the country.
“In any case, from the speech, it is clear that the Tinubu-led APC administration lacks the expected patriotic commitment as well as required capacity, competence and skills to effectively harness and manage the resources of the nation for the good of the citizens.”
The PDP spokespman criticized Tinubu’s claim in his speech that Nigerians had placed their confidence in him, calling it absurd.
He further stated that it highlights the President’s disconnect from the reality of his poor reputation among the Nigerian people.
“Mr. President must realize that Nigerians have lost faith in his administration, they have since moved on and are eagerly waiting for the next round of election that will mark the end of the nightmare which the APC represents to our nation, the statement added.
