By Jude Opara
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has said the economic policies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are deceptive because they have not been able to change the living standards of the people.
Adebayo equally stated that the conversation that petroleum products must be sold at international market prices in Nigeria is a farce by the APC administration to justify its harsh economic policies.
While speaking on Sunday night in Abuja, the presidential hopeful argued that Nigerians must earn international wages, if they were expected to pay international prices for petroleum products.
He stated that the disparity between the earnings of Nigerian workers and the prices they pay for essential commodities have made the policy unjustifiable, especially at a time when millions of citizens were struggling to cope with rising cost of living.
Adebayo added that the existence of international prices for commodities such as rice, water and petroleum does not mean that governments must also impose such prices on the citizens without considering local economic situations.
He said; “Any government that says to you, buy the stock in Nigeria at international market, that president, that government is a liar, wicked and evil.”
According to him, Nigerians should not be expected to pay international prices for petroleum products when workers, professionals and other categories of labour were paid substantially lower wages than their counterparts in developed world.
“There is international price for lecturers, if they are professors. There is international price for nurses, for drivers. Do you pay international price for labour in Nigeria?” he asked.
The SDP presidential candidate said the policy failed to take into account the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians, insisting that the government should place premium on the welfare of citizens in managing the country’s natural resources.
He also took a swipe at the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s administration over what he described as the disconnect between the life style of the political class and the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
“The president and other senior public officials enjoy access to official accommodation, medical care, transportation and other state-funded facilities, while ordinary citizens bear the brunt of rising prices and economic hardship”.
Adebayo further faulted the government’s approach to energy security, arguing that Nigeria’s crude oil resources should be managed in a way that supports domestic refining, industrial development and affordable petroleum products.
He questioned claims that domestic refining arrangements necessarily resulted in losses, insisting that the economic benefits of processing crude oil locally should be assessed alongside the value of the different products derived from it.
He said a properly designed energy policy should support local industries, reduce the cost of transportation and improve the welfare of Nigerians.
Reacting to the reported Ebola case, Adebayo expressed concerns over the alleged plot to halt political campaigns, insisting that a single case was insufficient to declare an epidemic or justify a halt to political activities.
“Ebola is not a bigger public health crisis in Nigeria, and a single instance of the disease was not enough to establish an epidemic”.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, observe recommended protocols and seek appropriate medical attention when symptoms associated with infectious diseases are suspected.
On insecurity, the SDP flag bearer identified security, protection and prosperity as central elements of his party’s vision for the country.
He pointed that Nigeria needed a responsible leadership that will be capable of protecting citizens, restoring public confidence and creating the conditions for economic development.
Adebayo said the SDP’s proposed Rescue Agenda was intended to provide Nigerians with an alternative political platform and invited citizens to scrutinise, criticise and contribute to the party’s policy direction.
He maintained that the protection of lives and property must remain a fundamental responsibility of government, particularly as security challenges have continued to persist in different parts of the country.
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