*Says Nigerians are living in despair
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Tuesday berated the All Progressives Congress, APC, led administration in the country, accusing it of ‘too many policy flops’ with majority of Nigerians now living in despair.
The National Chairman of the ADC, Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu said this in his address at the opening of the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party held in Abuja.
Okey Nwosu lamented that the processes, systems and principles underlying democracy and good governance in the country have been thoroughly bruised.
While noting that the nation’s economy is in shambles, the party pointed out that the monetary framework of the Central Bank of Nigeria can no longer be trusted to stabilize the Naira as the country’s foreign reserve has been depleted to rock bottom.
The ADC observed that while the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led
administration goes cap in hand looking for investors and loans, the environmental analysis is damning with the security situation being awful.
According to Chief Okey Nwosu, “As I have often said, it is irreconcilable that a democratically elected government will on day one impose hardship on the people.
“To increase the price of any commodity by over 400 percent from day one by a new administration is not only callous, it is cruel, dangerous, and evil, it shows the mind and heart of the presidency and elected officials of the day and their advisers.
“The consequence of this policy gaffe can only be imagined. In due time, I pray that our scholars, researchers, and various data mapping organizations will be able to show the morbidity, mortality, poverty, loan defaults, business closures, insecurity, and quantum of investment blockage (local and foreign) that singular action has caused.
“The hospital records alone cannot give the morbidity or mortality; many of our people cannot pay hospital bills or the transportation to get near the hospitals either. Not even the overflowing morgue records.
“Many families are so impoverished that they can neither afford the transportation cost to take their sick ones to the hospital, many cannot afford the hospital bills while many more cannot pay mortuary bills or afford the funeral costs.
“Party leaders, I do not need to tell you that our people live in despair.The policy flops are too many and have set all tiers, arms and agencies of government on fire alert, while our fire brigades are in comatose.
“That has resulted in policy summersault at every stage of President Tinubu’s led government.
“The economy is in shambles. The monetary framework of the Central Bank of Nigeria can no longer be trusted to stabilize the Naira as our foreign reserve has been depleted to rock bottom.
“The administration goes cap in hand looking for investors and loans. But the environmental analysis is damning.
“The security situation is awful.
Bandits still occupy many Local governments and farm areas. Kidnapping for ransom and other vices are rampant. The streets are not safe. “Transportation is grinding to a halt; either by air or road. The road infrastructure and security situation discourage road travel apart from fuel costs.
“The airports are becoming ghost and isolated areas.The states and local councils are no different.
“The governors operate in octopus style, holding onto everything like imperial majesties.
“The political landscape is depressing. Elected government officials and their appointees seem to be living in Wonderland in nauseating opulence and treachery.
“Nation building is a process. It could be complex and complicated, therefore it needs discerning minds, strategy and pooling together. There is nothing magical about it”, he said.
The ADC National Chairman therefore tasked leaders and members of the party to stand for Nigeria and be ready to make all the sacrifices. Recall we had mandated the conflict resolution committee to resolve all issues.
His words, “We have called the NEC to review and give ourselves a mandate to deepen all discussions to bring about a mega force to ensure that our country is restored to a dignified path.
“ADC must stand for Nigeria. As a result, we must be ready to make all the sacrifices”, he said.
