‘Nigerians Should Not Pay More Than ₦350 Per Litre For Petrol’ – PDP Tackles Tinubu’s New Year Message

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s New Year message, labelling it as “empty” and devoid of actionable plans to address the pressing issues of unemployment and hunger in the country.

In a statement released on Wednesday, PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba described the president’s address as “self-serving” and disconnected from the realities of Nigerians’ economic struggles.

The statement accused Tinubu’s administration of being indifferent to the hardships faced by citizens, stating: “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.”

The PDP also criticized the president for not addressing critical sectors such as petroleum pricing, food security, electricity, road infrastructure, and employment creation.

According to Ologunagba, the speech failed to present a strategic policy roadmap to stimulate small and medium-scale enterprises or tackle the unemployment crisis.

Highlighting the need for affordable fuel prices, the PDP argued that with proper management, Nigerians should not pay more than ₦350 per litre for petrol.

Ologunagba said Tinubu’s administration lacks the capacity and commitment to effectively manage the country’s resources for the benefit of its citizens.

The PDP also dismissed Tinubu’s assertion that Nigerians have confidence in his leadership, calling it out of touch with the reality of widespread discontent.

“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 ₦350 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,” Ologunagba stated.

The PDP asserted that many Nigerians have lost faith in Tinubu’s leadership and are looking forward to the next election cycle to bring an end to the challenges posed by the APC’s governance.

The opposition party urged Tinubu to prioritize the welfare and security of Nigerians, stressing the need for a governance approach that aligns with the needs of the people.