The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed alarm over President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to officials of his administration to “go on the offensive” in spreading the successes of his administration and not allow ‘politically motivated’ statements drown his government’s message of successful performance.
The president had stated this in his opening address at the First Ministerial Performance Review Retreat on Tuesday.
But in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Thursday, PDP said the directive amounted to ordering an “offensive”against Nigerians, who are patriotically crying out under the burden of economic hardship foisted on them by Buhari’s insensitive, clueless, deceptive and extremely corrupt administration.
The PDP asserted that such directive in a ministerial retreat which ought to be a problem-solving forum, is symptomatic of an administration that has become overwhelmed by the reality of its own failures and now seeking desperate measures to suppress the voice of the people.
The PDP declared that such anti-people stance amounts to a huge betrayal by Mr. President, who, before his elections, promised Nigerians an Eldorado, only to now turn around to label their cries and demands for good governance, security and basic necessities of life, particularly at the time they are agitating for reduction in the cost of fuel and electricity, as “irresponsible and politically motivated”.
According to the party, this is an unpardonable spat on the face of suffering Nigerians .
The party queried if by directing his ministers to “go on the offensive”, Mr. President was drawing a battle line between his government and Nigerians, who have been subjected to a life of misery in the last five years.
“Our Party holds that it is only a failed leadership that will resort to such aggressive stance, which also shows that the APC administration, in its arrogance and corruption, is not ready to listen to Nigerians; a situation that makes a legitimate action to draw their attention to the plight of the people most imperative.
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“Moreover, our party also berates President Buhari’s ministers for insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians by organizing a feasting retreat in the luxury of an air-conditioned room, where they engaged in deceptive self-praise for non-existent achievements while the government they serve has turned our nation to the capital poverty of the world and foisted the worst form of hardship on our citizens.
“The deceptive intention and outlook of this retreat by President Buhari and his illusory ministers is a painful enactment of the allegory in the Orwellian Animal Farm in our country under the APC.
“President Buhari, in asking his minister to go on the offensive, appears not to be worried that under his watch, Nigerians can no longer afford their staple food and other basic necessities of life and that mortality rate has spiraled because of hardship and unabated bloodletting in our country.
“Mr. President seems unperturbed that under his administration, the price of a bag of rice has risen from N8000 to N35,000; a measure of corn from N80 to N400; garri, from N150 to N400; beans, from N200 to N500, while fuel has been hiked from N87 to N162, with attendant hardship on the people.
“Also Mr. President appears not to be worried that the cost of medication, transportation, house rents, education, building materials and machineries have all skyrocketed and that majority of Nigerians cannot achieve the littlest of their legitimate dreams under his rule.
“Our party therefore firmly rejects President Buhari’s declaration that Nigerians, who are crying out in pain are ‘irresponsible’ or “politically motivated”.
“Mr. President should know that the solution to the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians under his watch cannot be reduced to a hand clapping party and ululation by cabinet ministers or issuing of suppressive directives against the people.
“Indeed, no responsible government should mount a high horse and spew on its citizens while they are groaning in the pains of the realities of its failures,” the statement read in party.
The PDP said it therefore charged Buhari to immediately withdraw his “offensive” comment, apologize and listen to Nigerians before it was too late.
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