The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a scathing assessment of President Bola Tinubu's two years in office, describing his administration as a "massive disappointment" that has plunged Nigerians into unprecedented hardship.
In a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja by National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, the opposition party characterized the period as "nightmarish," asserting that Nigerians have endured severe suffering under the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
The PDP urged President Tinubu to urgently address mounting insecurity, reverse "economically suffocating policies," and tackle what it described as "wholesale corruption, greed, unbridled profligacy, and reckless misdirection of resources" within his administration.
Economic Decline Under Scrutiny
The opposition party highlighted the stark economic contrast between its previous administration and the current government, noting that the Naira has plummeted from ₦167 to over ₦1,600 against the US Dollar. Similarly, petrol prices have surged from ₦87 per liter to over ₦1,000.
"Any government that cares for the wellbeing of the people and has an idea of macro-economic policy management would have reckoned that an abrupt increase in petrol price and devaluation of the Naira as executed by the Tinubu administration would cripple the productive sector," the statement read.
The PDP cited alarming statistics, including nearly 40% inflation rate, over 42% youth unemployment, acute food shortages, and a rise in criminality, claiming these factors have created an "unbearable" situation that has driven many talented Nigerians to flee the country, with some reportedly resorting to suicide.
Security Concerns and Business Environment
On security, the PDP claimed that more than 600,000 Nigerians have been killed by terrorists and bandits since May 2023 when President Tinubu took office, attributing this to the administration's "apparent negligence and failure" to ensure national security.
The party further alleged that multinationals are "leaving Nigeria in droves" for neighboring countries due to insecurity, deteriorating infrastructure, and economic uncertainties.
According to the PDP, instead of heeding advice from opposition parties and concerned citizens, the Tinubu administration has resorted to implementing multiple taxes, "exploitative charges," and accumulating foreign debt totaling ₦182.91 trillion, with a recent request for an additional $24.14 billion (₦38.24 trillion).
Call for Policy Reversal
The PDP urged President Tinubu to use his remaining two years in office to "redeem his image" by addressing insecurity, reviewing economic policies to reduce petroleum product prices, strengthening the Naira, and engaging "more skillful hands" to manage the economy.
The opposition party also accused the APC of being "obsessed with turning Nigeria into a one-party state" while allegedly misusing national resources on luxury items and lavish lifestyles amid widespread citizen suffering.
As of press time, the presidency had not issued an official response to the PDP's assessment of the administration's performance.
