Tribune / Nigeria: With the economy in a nose dive in the first 15 months of the present administration, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of being inept, clueless and unable to initiate polices to deal the economics recession.
It said the APC had rather engaged in its usual blame game to deceive Nigerians.
In a reaction to the claim made by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun who had alleged that the PDP could not account for N33trillion accruing to the country in the five years of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the PDP observed that the APC has portrayed itself as being dangerously obsessed with the frivolity of bamboozling
Nigerians with high-sounding figures only for entertainment purposes.
A statement issued by the PDP interim National Spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja on Saturday said: “It is obvious in the eyes of all discerning compatriots that this style of governance is not taking us anywhere.
“There is no doubt that it is this pattern of bare-faced lying, dishonesty and incompetence that has crippled our economy, utterly weakened our Naira and raised unemployment levels to unprecedented proportions in only 15 months.
“The APC Government has remained clueless and even confused as our economy plummeted to a level where the Nation’s infrastructure has
completely collapsed and Nigerians are no longer able to feed their children nor send them to school.
“The reality of dwindling oil revenues and an economy forced into a recession by an inept administration is a challenge that requires sincerity, competence and a large dose of honesty to get us out of the woods; not the constant lies and deception that have unfortunately, become the house-style in the 15-month old of APC’s Government.”
It described Odigie-Oyegun’s assertion as “avoidable mischief,” noting that issues bordering on the nation’s economy, have continued to hunt the image of the country “at a time we are in desperate need of investment from the international
community.”
The PDP maintained that without citing any credible sources, Odigie-Oyegun who it said has no proven economic background or the benefit of any known diligent research, had claimed that the nation earned N56 trillion in five years under
Jonathan, even as he admitted that the total budget for those years amounted to only N23 trillion which was less than half of the vaunted figures.
The PDP added: “Since no sources was cited for this ‘important’ piece of information, we are left to guess that he may have been inspired by a recent claim by other opportunist individuals that over N30 trillion may have been lost
within the period in question.
“But should this or any other source that is yet to be verified by relevant authorities be relied upon as national information especially, as the purveyors of the half-truth always buckled when challenged for a proof?
“In the same manner, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, recently claimed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had recovered more than $2 trillion (about N600 trillion at current exchange rate) in 12 years, apparently looted from the National Treasury at a time the Country was seeking to borrow $3 billion to finance the 2016 Budget deficit.
“It has since been proven that the Nation’s aggregate earnings in the last 12 years from all sources is no where near that figure, yet the nation’s Chief Law Officer is yet to recant the claim.”
The opposition party recalled that an APC Governor had once claimed that one of the Ministers in Jonathan’s Government stole $6 billion quoting unnamed United States Government source.
“It was only when the Americans repudiated that claim, that the falsehood was laid to rest,” the statement said.
The PDP therefore advised the APC Chairman to concentrate in helping the President Muhammadu Buhari and his party with ideas and policies “that will revamp our ailing economy, restore our dignity abroad rather than the usual tantrum just to castigate previous PDP’s Administration with a view to score cheap political point,” saying, “Time for honeymoon is over, it’s now time to deliver on your campaign promises.”
