The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of relying on manipulated statistics to create a misleading narrative about Nigeria’s economic situation.
The opposition party claimed that the administration’s policies have worsened the country’s economic woes, causing widespread hardship for citizens.
In a statement released on Monday after President Tinubu’s media address, PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba described the president’s comments as out of touch with the harsh realities Nigerians face daily. The party challenged Tinubu to experience firsthand the struggles of ordinary Nigerians by travelling from Abuja to Lagos by road or visiting local markets to witness the escalating cost of living.
The PDP criticised Tinubu’s staunch defence of his administration’s abrupt removal of fuel subsidies without implementing measures to cushion its impact. The party held the policy responsible for driving up inflation, crippling key sectors of the economy, and pushing millions further into poverty. According to the PDP, the president’s insistence that he has no regrets about the policy reflects the ruling APC’s disconnection from its fundamental responsibility to ensure the welfare and security of citizens.
Additionally, the PDP expressed alarm over Tinubu’s admission of his administration’s inability to tackle petroleum smuggling through Nigeria’s porous borders. The party argued that this failure has worsened the ongoing economic crisis. Tinubu’s claim that the Nigerian economy is improving was dismissed by the PDP as fabricated, pointing to rising inflation (now at 34.6%), the naira’s steep depreciation to N1,700 per dollar, a 40% unemployment rate, and the collapse of the productive sector as evidence of the contrary.
The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s assertion that Nigerians can now travel safely by road, calling it a misrepresentation of the prevailing insecurity across the country. It highlighted persistent threats such as banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery, as well as the poor state of Nigeria’s highways. The PDP dared the president to travel by road from Abuja to Lagos to verify his claims.
The party referenced recent food stampedes, which resulted in the deaths of over 80 people in various states, as evidence of escalating poverty under the APC-led government. It demanded transparency regarding the savings from the fuel subsidy removal, asserting that these funds have yet to be deployed to alleviate Nigerians’ suffering.
The PDP called on the administration to acknowledge its failures, implement genuine solutions to address economic and security challenges, and prioritise policies that truly benefit the Nigerian populace. It urged the government to provide clarity on its actions, particularly concerning the subsidy savings.
“There is no hope in sight under the APC. Nigerians deserve truth, transparency, and relief—not fabricated statistics. The government must act urgently to restore trust and alleviate the suffering of its people,” the PDP concluded.
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