For years, successive PDP administrations operated a phantom economy wired with complex distortions and suffocating corruption while deluding Nigerians into thinking that the economy was healthy
By Moses Okorie
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has expressed bitterness with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, accusing it of using the death of citizens to attract cheap political gains over the unfortunate stampede that took place in Oyo, Federal Capital Territory and Anambra, last week.
APC said at a time of national grief over stampedes the PDP seized the moment to engage in callous political chicanery, saying rather than genuinely commiserate with the victims and their families, the PDP chose to politicize the grief of the victims by blaming the stampedes on the APC-led administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the national publicity secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, “The tragedies have brought together all well-meaning Nigerians in mourning and sober reflection on how the incidents might have been avoided through better planning and organization by all involved. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims and their families.
“It is grossly indecent, insensitive and despicable for the PDP to exploit these tragic incidents in a senseless attack against the administration that has devoted itself to fixing the ruins of nearly two decades of PDP administration. Nigerians have not forgotten the tragic stampede at the ill-fated Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise in 2014 at the Abuja stadium, under the watch of the PDP administration, that left many desperate job seekers dead and scores injured. The PDP’s allegations only remind us of its sordid record of maladministration and utter incompetence.
APC said the PDP is either mischievous or totally out of touch with reality to suggest that President Bola Tinubu-led administration has not shown commitment to Nigerians’ welfare. For an administration that has invested hugely in alternative sources of energy and conversion of vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG); introduced the Credit Corps scheme and Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND); reviewed workers’ salaries and corps members’ allowances upward; sustained annual free and subsidized transportation fares for Nigerians during the yuletide; approved grants for farmers and small and medium entreprises (SMEs) and a slew of other humanitarian interventions, there is no doubt that this is the most people-centric administration in history.
“Laughably, the PDP claimed that APC’s policies ruptured a “once thriving economy.” For years, successive PDP administrations operated a phantom economy wired with complex distortions and suffocating corruption while deluding Nigerians into thinking that the economy was healthy. Changing course away from the lies and deception of the PDP, President Bola Tinubu embarked on the boldest and most courageous programme of reform to rebuild our country’s economy, and dismantling obstacles to true prosperity and sustainability. The economy is rebounding steadily now as reforms continue to yield wholesome dividends.
“We commend President Tinubu for calling off his scheduled activities in response to, and in honour of the victims of, the incidents. Again, we commiserate with families that lost their loved ones and wish the injured speedy recovery”, APC stated.