The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has thrown down the gauntlet, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to either deliver a New Year address with actionable solutions or abstain from making any speech at all. In a strongly worded statement, the opposition party criticized past addresses as being “devoid of substance” and warned that Nigerians could no longer endure mere rhetoric in the face of hardship.
A Challenge to Address Pressing Issues
In its New Year message, the PDP demanded that Tinubu’s address must prioritize tangible steps to reduce fuel prices, alleviate hunger, and enhance security across the nation. According to Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Tinubu’s administration has repeatedly failed to provide solutions, instead offering “hopeless rhetoric, unsubstantiated statistics, and false promises.”
“Previous addresses have only validated flawed elections and celebrated hollow achievements,” Ologunagba asserted. “Nigerians deserve better than speeches that glorify failure and overlook their suffering.”
A Call for Transparency and Accountability
The PDP also challenged Tinubu to account for the billions of naira reportedly accrued from the removal of petroleum subsidies. The opposition party accused the administration of failing to channel these funds into meaningful projects.
“Mr. President must explain how these funds have been utilized,” the statement read. “Nigerians demand clarity, especially as hunger, unemployment, and insecurity worsen.”
The party went further, urging the president to fulfill his promises of fighting corruption. They called for investigations into the alleged theft of over ₦25 trillion by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming that government agencies have been turned into “Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)” for personal enrichment.
Lingering Shadows of the EndSARS Protests
The PDP expressed concern over unresolved cases of alleged state-backed killings, particularly those linked to the 2020 EndSARS protests. “The refusal to revisit the tragic EndSARS massacre is a glaring failure of this administration,” Ologunagba said. He described the denial of justice for victims as “inhuman” and “unacceptable.”
The Burden of Hardship
The PDP painted a grim picture of life under Tinubu’s leadership, describing the past 18 months as the most difficult period for Nigerians since the Civil War. They pointed to rising suicide rates and an increase in emigration as evidence of the despair gripping the nation.
“Desperate citizens are leaving the country in droves because of the anti-people policies of this suppressive and exploitative APC government,” the statement declared. The party accused APC leaders of flaunting their wealth while ordinary Nigerians wallow in poverty.
A Warning for 2025
As 2025 begins, the PDP cautioned the APC against continuing with policies and attitudes that have strained the patience of Nigerians. “Carrying such insensitivity into the new year will further alienate the government from the people,” Ologunagba warned.
Despite their criticism, the PDP offered a glimmer of hope, urging Nigerians to remain optimistic and law-abiding. “Let us approach 2025 with renewed faith in our ability to restore stability and prosperity,” the party said, calling on citizens to defend democracy and demand accountability from the government.
Context and Historical Backdrop
The PDP’s statement taps into long-standing grievances about the APC’s governance since 2015. The removal of fuel subsidies in 2023, while intended to stabilize the economy, has led to skyrocketing fuel prices and widespread dissatisfaction. Insecurity has also remained a persistent challenge, with kidnappings, banditry, and communal clashes escalating in various parts of the country.
The EndSARS protests of 2020, a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s recent history, remain a sore point. While the movement initially focused on ending police brutality, it evolved into a broader critique of governance. The government’s handling of the protests, particularly the alleged massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate, continues to haunt its image.