On Sunday, the ruling All Progressives Congress and the federal government confronted state governors on the Peoples Democratic Party platform, where they were demanding President Bola Tinubu resign due to the ongoing economic hardship and depreciation of the naira.
The ruling party also took issue with the governors’ assertion that Nigeria, under the APC’s leadership, was on the verge of resembling Venezuela.
The PDP governors, led by Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State, claimed last week that Tinubu was nearly certain to turn Nigeria into Venezuela.
Among the many issues the South American nation is currently dealing with are business closures, corruption, shortages of food and medicine, and high unemployment rates.
The ruling APC and Tinubu were advised by the PDP governors to step down on Saturday if they were unable to offer long-term solutions for the country’s problems.
In response, PDP governors were attacked by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, for trying to divert attention from those who are committed to realizing President Tinubu’s visions.
Idris stated in a statement released on Sunday and signed by his media assistant, Rabiu Ibrahim, that the call was nothing more than an attempt at diversion by those who ought to be busy assisting the President in his endeavors to provide economic relief to the Nigerian people. Our thoughtful opinion is that the PDP and its governors shouldn’t be trying to accomplish through intimidation behind closed doors what they have continuously failed to accomplish through democratic channels since 2015.
“Those who have the opportunity to bring about significant change but were unable to do so ought not to attempt to divert or disturb those who are working on the presidential vision that Nigerians have chosen to execute.”
The minister gave an explanation of the current administration’s agenda, saying, “Since its founding, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has generously provided financial support to all State Governments, irrespective of their political affiliation. Furthermore, all States’ revenue, including the PDP States’, has increased due to the elimination of the gasoline subsidy, which was, incidentally, one of the primary tenets of the PDP presidential campaign. Since more has been given to them, more is anticipated from them.
“With programs centered on large-scale infrastructure, social welfare, prioritizing the equipment and welfare of the military and security agencies, and reclaiming Nigeria’s strategic place in the comity of nations, the President and his administration recognize the unfinished business of revamping our national economy, which was started by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Following their annihilation in 2014 and 2015, Boko Haram and its affiliates have made similar audacious gains with bandits and other criminals.
“Several liabilities left behind by the PDP government, such as subsidy claims by oil marketers, Paris Club Refunds, unpaid pensions, gratuities, and salary arrears owed various categories of pensioners from liquidated and existing state-owned enterprises,” Idris continued, referring to the ruling APC.
The very real and ongoing legacies of the ruling All Progressives Congress include the major oil sector reforms that the PDP had long pushed but failed to deliver, such as the PIB’s passage and the construction of new refineries in addition to the renovation of existing ones.
“In order for Nigerians to understand our perspective and value the work being done in its entirety, we must continue to present these facts.”
Felix Morka, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, reacted as well, saying that while he can’t blame anyone for having opinions, it would be incorrect to urge the President to give up on “idle spectators.”
Morka emphasized that the governors should provide helpful suggestions or answers to governance problems rather than making fun of the idea that the three levels of government in a federal system such as Nigeria have shared, constitutionally defined responsibilities.
“Living in deliberate ignorance of their constitutional duties, governors nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party yesterday gave President Bola Tinubu advice to ‘throw in the towel’ if he is no longer able to lead Nigeria,” the statement read. These indolent but ruthlessly complicit spectators in the affairs of their states and citizens now wear this repugnant executive flippancy as a badge of identity.
Governors have the same right to free speech as any other citizen. But in order to exercise that right, one must do so in accordance with a respectable and reasonable standard. Avoid making careless remarks that could stoke racial tensions and social unrest. Even in light of Nigeria’s current difficult security and economic circumstances, the PDP governors’ recent statement comparing the country to Venezuela is misleading and reeks of unjustified outrage.
Morka expressed disappointment in the PDP governors, claiming they are little more than lip-service followers who rarely follow their own advice.
For this reason, he asked Nigerians to set aside their comments and wait patiently for the president to make the necessary changes to the nation.
“Just as the President’s table is where the federal government ends, the governors’ table is where the state government ends.” It is nothing less than self-indictment for the PDP governors to urge the President to give up. That the same governors, who have consistently dispossessed local government administrations of federally allocated funds and perpetually stifled them, are now talking about buck is abhorrent. They have never justified the enormous federal allocations to their states.
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“At this moment of profound and long-lasting economic change in our nation, President Bola Tinubu is assuming accountability and demonstrating strong leadership. The administration has started implementing drastic yet necessary reforms that are necessary for prosperity, long-term growth, and economic recovery. As these policies start to produce the desired results, our people are experiencing temporary but painful difficulties, which the administration is extremely determined to lessen.
“Nigerians have a right to a safe, secure environment with access to the most basic social and economic amenities. As our country soars unstoppably toward firmer ground and a more prosperous future, our Party and administration ask for patience during these trying times,” he said.
