In all 24 years, the trio, individually or collectively, could not and did not eradicate poverty in their states or the country.”
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has responded sharply to allegations made by former political leaders at the 60th birthday celebration of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, held in Abuja on Saturday.
In a statement issued Monday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC dismissed remarks suggesting that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was “weaponizing poverty,” calling the claims baseless and self-serving.
Morka described Amaechi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai — who were all present at the lecture — as a “trio united in desperation for self-serving power.”
“These three individuals have occupied Nigeria’s highest political offices between 1999 and 2023, either as Vice President, Governors, or Ministers,” the statement read. “In all 24 years, the trio, individually or collectively, could not and did not eradicate poverty in their states or the country.”
Morka accused the former officials of failing to address structural economic issues while in power, instead “reveling in mindless rent-seeking behavior,” including corrupt practices and the sale of national assets to cronies.
He singled out Amaechi, who he said spent 24 consecutive years in public office, claiming he “freeloaded on state resources” without any legacy of poverty reduction. Referring to Amaechi’s remark at the event that “I am hungry,” Morka said: “He must be understood to mean he is hungry and desperate to return to his felt entitled dependency on state resources.”
The party spokesman also took aim at Atiku and Peter Obi, accusing them of benefiting from the old import-dependent economy while now criticizing Tinubu’s reforms.
“Atiku, a former Customs officer, and Obi, a successful importer, reaped enormous benefits from the very system they now decry. Their criticisms reek of special interest masqueraded as concern for the people,” Morka said.
Defending the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, the APC insisted that allowing market forces to determine the value of the Naira, removing fuel subsidies, and unifying exchange rates are necessary steps to reset the economy.
“These bold reforms have catalyzed economic growth, boosted competitiveness, and improved trade balances,” the party said, citing a 4.6 percent economic growth rate in the last quarter of 2024 and the rise of local production.
Morka claimed the reforms are yielding results in job creation and investments, with manufacturers in the South East “producing top-notch products in unprecedented quantities,” and the Dangote Refinery contributing to energy market stability.
On wage improvements, the APC said many states that once struggled to pay the former N30,000 minimum wage are now paying N70,000, attributing this to increased government revenue and economic recovery.
“President Tinubu has demonstrated the political will to tackle structural barriers to economic development far more than any president in Nigeria’s modern history,” Morka said.
The APC warned that it would not be distracted by what it described as “the selfish partisan rambling of some hardened political opportunists.”
“The best strategic interest of our economy and the good people of Nigeria must continue to trump any and all political or electoral calculations,” the statement added.