The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigerians to celebrate Christmas in spite of the “harsh carols” of political unrest and economic hardship that the All Progressives Congress administration is ringing around the country.
The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Monday, charged Nigerians to continue to be their brother’s keepers, especially at this trying time.
The party blamed President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the hardship, difficulties and uncertainties imposed on the nation.
The statement read in part, “Our party is grieved that while families in other climes and nations are celebrating with joy, Nigerians are observing Christmas in hunger and misery because of the anti-people policies of the APC administration.
“Instead of caring for Nigerians, the APC administration continues to allow the mindless plundering and diversion of our national resources to fund the luxury appetite of APC leaders while other Nigerians suffer excruciating hardship.
“Is it not heartless that instead of taking steps to revamp the economy, the APC administration deliberately caused an increase in the pump price of fuel from N167 to over N700 per litre; devalued the Naira to triggering high costs and crippled the productive sector by attendant job losses in their quest to weaponise poverty and suppress Nigerians to surrender to totalitarianism?
“This explains why the N27.5 trillion 2024 budget is completely devoid of concrete mechanisms to address the comatose manufacturing and productive sectors, human capital development and depleting life expectancy of Nigeria citizens but heavily skewed to provide for the luxury appetite of APC leaders and their cronies.”
The major opposition party charged the National Assembly to be on the side of the people by cutting all provisions for luxury items in the budget and channelling such funds to sectors that have a direct bearing on the well-being of Nigerians.
It urged Nigerians not to succumb to despair but to use the occasion and essence of Christmas to offer prayers as well as renew their hope and trust in the Divine intervention of God in the affairs of the nation.
