Wike-backed PDP faction rejects Tinubu's claim that opposition caused hardship
- A PDP faction backed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has pushed back on President Tinubu's claim that the opposition caused Nigeria's hardship.
- The party's publicity secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the APC should account for its own record instead of shifting blame.
- Tinubu made the comment at the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected President Bola Tinubu's claim that the opposition is to blame for the hardship Nigerians are facing.
The president spoke on Saturday at the APC presidential campaign flag-off at the Kaduna Township Stadium, where he said his government was working to remove hardship he linked to the opposition.
In a statement, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the PDP would not accept blame for the country's economic troubles. He described the president's remarks as an effort to avoid responsibility and turn attention away from the problems facing Nigerians under the APC-led government.
What the PDP is asking for
The party wants the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to explain its plans on the issues that affect ordinary Nigerians most. It listed affordable food, support for farmers, stronger local food production, jobs, security, the fight against corruption, electricity supply, transport costs and the purchasing power of citizens.
Mohammed said the PDP's sixteen years in power should not be used as a blanket excuse for the current administration's shortcomings. He argued that every government should be judged by its policies and by how people live under it.
After APC's more than 10 years in office, Nigerians deserve answers, not excuses,
the statement said.
The party also said that while history can help explain present difficulties, it cannot shield any government from accountability. It said Nigerians want practical solutions, stable prices and better security rather than a continuing argument over who is to blame.
The faction claimed that more Nigerians now want the PDP back in power, saying this reflects a desire for better governance and a more secure country. It called on the Tinubu administration to set out a clear plan for economic recovery, food security and a better standard of living.
What happens next
The back-and-forth is likely to continue as the APC campaigns and the opposition parties respond. For voters, the test will be whether either side offers concrete answers on food prices, fuel, jobs and security.
