The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday faulted President Bola Tinubu’s New Year message to Nigerians.
The President had earlier on Wednesday announced a plan by his administration to lower food prices in the country.
He also promised to promote local manufacturing of essential drugs and other medical supplies through the establishment of a National Credit Guarantee Company in the New Year.
However, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party said the president’s speech was without concrete plans to address the country’s challenges.
The PDP expressed concern that the Tinubu administration is completely disconnected and unconcerned with the economic hardship in the country.
The statement read: “Nigerians were appalled that despite the prodding by the PDP and well-meaning citizens, President Tinubu’s New Year speech did not articulate any specific direction for the nation or proffer solutions to the myriad of problems caused by APC’s misrule.
“President Tinubu’s speech again underlines APC’s insensitivity to the anguish of Nigerians by failing to present any definite policy roadmap towards reducing the price of petroleum products, addressing the widespread hunger in the land, and revamping our ailing productive sector.
“It was also pathetically devoid of a precise plan to address unemployment through strategic investment to stimulate multisectoral small and medium scale enterprises in the country.
“If indeed the APC administration has the interest of Nigerians at heart, the New Year address would have made definite pronouncements on the price of fuel, especially given that with deft, transparent, and innovative management of resources, economic potentials, comparative advantage, national refining capacity, and effective policing of our borders, Nigerians should not pay more than N350 per litre for petrol within the country.
“In any case, from the speech, it is clear that the Tinubu-led APC administration lacks the expected patriotic commitment as well as the required capacity, competence, and skills to effectively harness and manage the resources of the nation for the good of the citizens.
“Moreover, President Tinubu’s claim in the speech that Nigerians placed their confidence in him as their president is ludicrous and shows that he is disconnected from the reality of his abysmal perception among Nigerians.”