By Tom Zaneni, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised President Bola Tinubu for his failure to promptly address the nation amidst the raging nation-wide #EndBadGovernance protests in the country.
According to the PDP, the president has kept silent while the nation is reeling under mass demonstrations by angry youths over economic hardship and hunger unleashed on the nation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2015.
The major opposition party called out Tinubu in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
It demanded that the president should end his silence and without delay address Nigerians.
It urged Tinubu to inform Nigerians the urgent measures his administration would take to reduce the price of petroleum products, stem the fall of the Naira and ensure speedy provision of food.
The opposition party also urged the President to revamp the productive sector, stimulate employment and restore stability in the polity.
The PDP expressed concerns that Tinubu’s silence was sending a very dangerous signal and heightening public apprehension that the APC-led government was insensitive to the feelings of the citizens and the overall sorry state of affairs in the nation.
The statement read in part, “It is indeed worrisome that President Tinubu could remain silent as Nigerians are on the streets demanding for good governance, protection, security and welfare, which are the primary purpose of government.
“The world is watching in horror as operatives of APC-controlled security agencies assault, shoot and kill unarmed protesters, with thugs allegedly mobilized by the APC also unleashing violence on innocent Nigerians.
“Our Party calls on President Tinubu to end his silence, immediately address the nation and reassure the citizens on issues agitating their minds particularly the reduction in the price of petroleum products and food items
“Our Party insists that with a deft, transparent and innovative management of resources, economic potentials, comparative advantage and refining capacity, petrol should not sell more than N200 per liter in Nigeria especially with a strategic investment in gas production.”
The party also called on Tinubu to also urgently commence the process of recovering the over N50 trillion reportedly stolen by APC leaders, reduce tariffs on essential goods, cut the cost of governance, review all luxury items in his government and channel funds recovered to programmes that have direct bearing on the wellbeing of Nigerians.
It demanded a thorough investigation into the reported killing of unarmed Nigerians by certain unscrupulous security operatives during the protests.
The PDP further urged the security agencies to ensure high level of professionalism in their duty of providing security and protection to the citizens
The PDP, again, enjoined Nigerians to remain peaceful and law-abiding in the pursuit of a responsive and people-oriented government, it said, had eluded the nation since the coming of the APC in 2015.
