Monday’s media chat by President Bola Tinubu has come under strong criticism from 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and his New Nigeria Peoples Party counterpart, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, among other members of the opposition.
In their reactions on Tuesday, Atiku and Kwankwaso particularly flayed the President for announcing plans to continue borrowing loans to execute infrastructural projects as well as his ‘no going back on fuel subsidy removal’ statement.
Speaking through his media adviser, Paul Ibe, on Tuesday, former Vice President Atiku criticised the All Progressives Congress-led government for “borrowing without purpose.”
He stated, “Which financial discipline have you seen? Nothing has changed ever since he became President. It is just the same Tinubu that we know. The economy and security are not better. They are being reckless with the nation’s resources.
“All he claims he’s doing is not visible to Nigerians. This Christmas is going to be the hardest for most Nigerians due to the economic hardship and hunger in the land. If he says he’s borrowing to improve infrastructure, where are they? You can’t borrow to pay salaries but specific purposes and targeted projects.
“Tinubu has failed to demonstrate that over time. The government has been borrowing and imposing taxes on ordinary Nigerians, who are suffering. They are borrowing for no reason. He hasn’t done enough as expected of him to reposition the country.”
In the same vein, Kwankwaso, through his party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, stated, “We believe that the budget sent to the National Assembly about a week ago shows that this administration has failed to acknowledge the pains and sufferings of Nigerians. They do not seem to comprehend the gravity of the situation we are in at the moment.
“From that budget, you can still see the loans and see the vehicles being acquired. Some of these things are not necessities. So, this government has to show seriousness in cutting costs.
“You cannot keep telling Nigerians to tighten their belts while you are not tightening yours. The legislators are not tightening theirs. It’s not fair to the people of Nigeria. It isn’t.”
In a similar vein, major opposition parties in the country expressed disappointment at the media chat.
The National Legal Adviser of the Labour Party, Kehinde Edun, condemned Tinubu’s plan to secure additional loans for infrastructure as a faux pas.
Edun further described the President’s refusal to cut down on his bloated cabinet as “bravado,” saying he would be forced to do so at the appropriate time.
He said, “As to retaining his cabinet, the man may not want to cause unnecessary panic. I don’t think he will retain all of the ministers. The man is still going to make changes. On not going back on fuel subsidy removal, the man is just using bravado. He believes that we are already neck deep hence the need to continue.
“The truth is that the thing has brought so much misery and it is glaring for everybody to see. All he is doing now is bravado. There is so much misery on the land. Again, people are right in blaming hunger and misery for the tragic food stampedes. On his decision to continue borrowing for infrastructure, it should be condemned.”
