Tinubu’s New Year Message Lacks Solutions to Unemployment, Hunger — PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s New Year message, describing it as lacking a concrete plan to tackle the issues of unemployment and hunger facing Nigerians.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party labeled the president’s speech as self-satisfying and devoid of hope for Nigerians.

Ologunagba accused the Tinubu-led administration of being disconnected from the economic hardship confronting the nation.

“Nigerians were appalled that despite the prodding by the PDP and well-meaning citizens, President Tinubu’s New Year speech did not articulate any specific direction for the nation or proffer solutions to the myriad of problems caused by APC’s misrule,” the statement read.

The PDP spokesman highlighted the absence of any clear policy roadmap to address critical issues such as the rising cost of petroleum products, widespread hunger, the country’s ailing productive sector, and unemployment.

“President Tinubu’s speech again underlines APC’s insensitivity to the anguish of Nigerians by failing to present any definite policy roadmap towards reducing the price of petroleum products, addressing the widespread hunger in the land, and revamping our ailing productive sector,” he said.

Ologunagba further criticized the speech for failing to outline strategic plans for critical sectors such as electricity, oil and gas, road infrastructure, and food production.

He added that there was no precise plan to address unemployment through investments in small and medium-scale enterprises.

The PDP argued that with effective management of the nation’s resources, Nigerians should not be paying more than N350 per litre for petrol.

“If the APC administration had the interest of Nigerians at heart, the New Year address would have included definite pronouncements on the price of fuel, backed by transparent and innovative management of the nation’s economic potentials and refining capacity,” the statement added.

The party also described Tinubu’s claim of having the confidence of Nigerians as “ludicrous,” stating that it demonstrated a disconnect from the reality of his “abysmal perception among citizens.”

Ologunagba concluded by asserting that Nigerians have lost faith in the APC administration and are eagerly anticipating the next round of elections to end what he termed the “nightmare” the party represents.

He called on the president to listen to Nigerians and prioritize their welfare and security in governance.