|
Listen to article
|
Monday’s media briefing by President Bola Tinubu has stirred serious controversy, particularly among opposition leaders. Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the session as superficial and lacking direction, a sentiment echoed by NNPP’s Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. Their criticisms, coupled with those of other political actors, highlighted deep-seated frustrations with Tinubu’s communication strategy.
On Tuesday, both Atiku Abubakar and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso took issue with President Bola Tinubu’s remarks, criticizing his insistence on borrowing funds for infrastructural projects and his firm stance on the removal of fuel subsidies. They argued that such policies would exacerbate the economic challenges already faced by Nigerians, calling for a more sustainable approach to governance.
Through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized the APC-led government on Tuesday for its practice of “borrowing without purpose.” Atiku argued that such indiscriminate financial policies underscored the administration’s lack of fiscal responsibility and vision.
He stated, “Which financial discipline have you seen? Nothing has changed ever since he became President. It is just the same Tinubu that we know. The economy and security are not better. They are being reckless with the nation’s resources.
“All he claims he’s doing is not visible to Nigerians. This Christmas is going to be the hardest for most Nigerians due to the economic hardship and hunger in the land. If he says he’s borrowing to improve infrastructure, where are they? You can’t borrow to pay salaries but specific purposes and targeted projects.
“Tinubu has failed to demonstrate that over time. The government has been borrowing and imposing taxes on ordinary Nigerians, who are suffering. They are borrowing for no reason. He hasn’t done enough as expected of him to reposition the country.”
In the same vein, Kwankwaso, through his party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, stated, “We believe that the budget sent to the National Assembly about a week ago shows that this administration has failed to acknowledge the pains and sufferings of Nigerians. They do not seem to comprehend the gravity of the situation we are in at the moment.
Read also: Edo Debt Profile Rose To ₦485bn Under Obaseki – APC Laments
“From that budget, you can still see the loans and see the vehicles being acquired. Some of these things are not necessities. So, this government has to show seriousness in cutting costs.
“You cannot keep telling Nigerians to tighten their belts while you are not tightening yours. The legislators are not tightening theirs. It’s not fair to the people of Nigeria. It isn’t.”
Likewise, prominent opposition parties voiced their dissatisfaction with the President’s media chat, with Kehinde Edun, the Labour Party’s National Legal Adviser, sharply criticizing Tinubu’s proposal to take on more loans for infrastructure. Edun labeled the move as a significant misstep, warning of its potential to compound the nation’s economic woes.
Edun described Tinubu’s adamant refusal to reduce his inflated cabinet as nothing more than “bravado,” stating that the pressures of governance would eventually compel him to address the issue and implement changes.
He said, “As to retaining his cabinet, the man may not want to cause unnecessary panic. I don’t think he will retain all of the ministers. The man is still going to make changes. On not going back on fuel subsidy removal, the man is just using bravado. He believes that we are already neck deep hence the need to continue.
“The truth is that the thing has brought so much misery and it is glaring for everybody to see. All he is doing now is bravado. There is so much misery on the land. Again, people are right in blaming hunger and misery for the tragic food stampedes. On his decision to continue borrowing for infrastructure, it should be condemned.
“They have borrowed so much and we are still not out of the wood yet. This idea of securing loans started a long time ago. Buhari kept on borrowing, and throughout his tenure, nothing changed. Our roads and light are getting worse; there is no infrastructure improvement.”
The Coalition of United Political Parties equally frowned at the continued borrowing, saying Nigerians are aware that the APC administration lacked financial discipline.
Speaking with the press, the National Publicity Secretary of CUPP, Mark Adebayo, said, “Of course, every Nigerian knows there is no sign of financial discipline anywhere in this government. If there were, the President would not remove almost N200bn to buy a presidential jet. The President would not spend huge amounts of money to buy a single car for the presidential convoy.
“If there were financial discipline, nothing like that would happen. In a nation where the President reflects on the economic woes of the country, he would not even consider that. There are Presidents, heads of state, and governments in even more advanced economies of the world that don’t have presidential jets, who travel on commercial flights and the like.
