The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that President Bola Tinubu account for the billions of naira reportedly saved from the removal of fuel subsidies and investigate the alleged theft of over N25 trillion by APC leaders and government officials.
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologuagba, stated this in a New Year address titled ‘Address Insecurity, Fuel, Food Crisis’
Ologuagba said the party congratulated Nigerians on the dawn of 2025, while also challenging President Tinubu to take immediate action to address the country’s pressing issues.
He said: @OfficialPDPNig congratulates Nigerians on the dawning of the year 2025 and charges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT not to taint the new year with an address that will not proffer immediate and concrete steps to reduce the price of fuel, address widespread hunger and provide clear-cut measures to guarantee security of lives and property in the country.
“This position by the PDP is predicated on the fact that previous addresses by Mr. President in the last 18 months dwelt only on hopeless rhetoric, unsubstantiated statistics, false promises, conjured performance claims and validation of flawed elections without concrete mechanisms to address insecurity, resuscitate the economy, create jobs, ensure credible elections and guarantee better living standard for Nigerians.
“The PDP maintains that President Tinubu must speak to the issues of unbridled corruption, deceit, budget padding, reckless and wasteful spending directed to fund luxury appetite of APC
@OfficialAPCNg leaders, insensitivity to the pains of citizens and total disregard to the obligation of government which has made life unbearable for Nigerians under his watch.
“The Party also challenges President Tinubu to use the address to give account of the billions of Naira officially reported to have accrued from the removal of subsidy on petroleum products. “Furthermore, Mr. President should come clean on his public commitment to fight corruption by ordering an investigation and recovery of the over N25 trillion reportedly stolen by APC leaders and officials in government who have turned government agencies to Automated Teller Machines (ATM) to siphon funds for their benefit while other Nigerians wallow in abject poverty, hunger and starvation.
The PDP accused President Tinubu’s administration of focusing on rhetoric and unsubstantiated promises instead of implementing tangible solutions to Nigeria’s challenges ¹.
The party specifically urged the president to provide clear-cut measures to reduce fuel prices, address widespread hunger, and guarantee security of lives and property in the country.
Furthermore, the PDP criticized the APC government’s failure to address state-backed violence, including the 2020 EndSARS killings, and its alleged insensitivity to the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
“Equally worrisome is the failure of the APC government to revisit and address the reported cases of alleged State-backed killings in various parts of the country, particularly the 2020 EndSars killings and inhuman denial of the massacre of promising Nigerian youths in that sad and repulsive incident.
“The last 18 months have been the most excruciating period to Nigerians since the Civil War with citizens now resorting to suicide and slavery mission aboard due to the hopeless situation foisted by the anti-people policies of the suppressive, exploitative and insensitive APC government which continues to reject every appeal and suggestion for review of such policies.
“More disheartening is that while Nigerians die of hunger and insecurity, APC leaders and officials in government continue to flaunt their luxury appetite and lifestyle in utter disdain to the feelings of millions of impoverished citizens.
The party warned that continuing these policies in 2025 would further exacerbate the patience and sensibility of Nigerians
“The PDP cautions the APC not to carry over such attitude into 2025 as such would further exasperate the patience and sensibility of Nigerians” the statement said.
Despite these challenges, the PDP urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and law-abiding, and to approach 2025 with optimism for a new dawn in their determination to defend the country’s democracy and demand transparency and accountability in government.