By Milcah Tanimu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has harshly criticized President Bola Tinubu following his 64th Independence Day broadcast, asserting that his speech reflected a lack of understanding of the struggles faced by Nigerians. The party accused the president of failing to address pressing issues and review the “life-suffocating policies” of his government.
In a statement issued by Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, the party labeled Tinubu’s administration as “clueless, insensitive, and unresponsive.” They expressed disappointment that the president’s speech offered no solutions to the multitude of economic and security challenges plaguing the nation.
“Nigerians are appalled that the President’s speech was a complete waste of time, failing to tackle the economic hardship, unemployment, and widespread hunger that have driven citizens to protest,” Ologunagba stated. He pointed out that while Tinubu claimed that only 10% of Nigerians faced hunger, reports indicate that over 100 million people struggle to afford basic necessities.
The PDP further criticized Tinubu’s assurances of micro-economic improvement, asserting that his government has not effectively addressed the high fuel prices—critical for the nation’s economy—nor has it invested in the productive sector to boost employment and stabilize the Naira. The party contended that the president’s inability to respond to these issues illustrates a disconnect between the APC administration and the Nigerian populace, particularly the youth.
Additionally, the PDP accused the APC-led government of undermining Nigeria’s democracy, noting the silence on the erosion of credible elections and the constant attacks on the constitutional rights of citizens in the president’s address.
