By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Governor of Sokoto State and chairman of Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has declared that Nigeria cannot survive under the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) beyond 2023.
He made the statement in his opening remarks at a retreat for newly elected PDP officers in Abuja on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.
Gov. Tambuwal stressed that it was time to rescue and rebuild Nigeria, saying the country has an “urgent need for a surgical operation” as it is “in a permanent emergency.”
He, therefore, urged the PDP leaders to ensure that the party remains strong enough to position it firmly on its Rescue Nigeria mission.
“A rickety vehicle cannot take Nigeria to its destination as the nation with possibilities for greatness and progress. PDP is now once again a well-oiled, serviced vehicle that will midwife the Nigeria of our dreams.
“It is indeed time to Rescue and Rebuild Nigeria. Nigeria is in an urgent need for a surgical operation. Nigeria is in a permanent emergency,” he added.
The PDP-GF Chairman expressed optimism that the problems of Nigeria can be resolved with the right leaders at the helm of its affairs.
He said: “We all know what the problems are. They are man-made. And is therefore resolvable. It requires a focused, determined, knowledgeable and patriotic organisation of like minds to build the critical mass necessary for a great leap forward. Yes, it requires leadership, with vision and discipline.
“We suffer from a crisis of governance. The unity of Nigeria is facing unprecedented challenges. Life in Nigeria is increasingly becoming brutish and short as insecurity ravages the land. Poverty is the forte of the ordinary Nigerian. The health and education of our people has not improved.
“Our people are in want. The economy is in dire straits with the exchange rate now about N540 to a Dollar from the N150 to a Dollar when PDP left office. Prices of food stuff and essential commodities are unsustainable. Clearly beyond the reach of the average Nigerian.
“Between 35 to 40% of Nigerians are unemployed. And women and Youths bear the main brunt. Bandits, kidnappers, terrorists are having a field day. Almost unchallenged. Our children are not safe even in their schools.
“Corruption still stalk the land. Nepotism, ethnic and religious bigotry reign supreme in today’s APC’s Nigeria. Our infrastructure is still comatose.
Trust and hope in Nigeria is at its lowest. Our lamentations can go on, ad infinitum.”
Speaking further, the Governor said it was in recognition of the fact that the test of leadership is the ability to solve problems the retreat was organised.
He urged the participants to “brainstorm and offer policy options for Nigeria. We cannot only criticise, we must provide workable solutions and clear policy alternatives.
“This will be presented to the Nigerian people. A sharp contrast must be drawn with the ruling incompetent and rudderless APC administration.”
Tambuwal further said the PDP has shown that it has learnt its lessons and is ready for power in 2023 to provide hope where ineptitude currently exists.
He explained: “Where APC thrives in excuses, PDP will take responsibility. Where APC thrives in propaganda and deceit, PDP will be transparent with Nigerians. Whereas APC Government thrives in insecurity, PDP will secure Nigeria.
“Whereas APC presides over Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world, PDP will make Nigeria prosperous. APC has wrecked our economy, but PDP will salvage it. Where APC focuses on selective anti-corruption fight, PDP will fight corruption with appropriate institutional reforms.”
Gov. Tambuwal reiterated his call for restructuring of Nigeria’s polity, economy, security and ways of doing things in order to achieve progress.
“It must embrace relative autonomy and decentralisation of power. This will unleash the energies of our people, especially, the young. It is time to allow Nigeria blossom. It is doable with all hands on deck.
“Secondly, we must embrace innovation and technology as a way of life. Technology will solve the youth unemployment time tomb. Technology will improve our agriculture, health, industralisation, education and indeed, it has implications and impacts on all facets of our lives.
“It is in this respect that we continue to condemn the twitter ban as a retrogressive action that should never have happened,” he stated.