Nigeria Must not be left to Transactional Politicians – Obi
The Labour Party (LP) has expressed dismay at the New Year Speech by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Nigerians.
The party in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Mr Obiora Ifoh at the weekend, said the speech conveyed to Nigerians the high level of hypocrisy, deceit and lack of empathy which has become the guiding principle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration which Tinubu leads.
According to LP, “It is depressing to note that the President and his handlers didn’t deem it fit to include a word of comfort for the families of over 200 persons killed by terrorists during the Christmas Eve massacre in Plateau State. What a shame.
“The President’s helplessness in the face of his glaring failure to address the critical issues of insecurity, decayed infrastructure, collapse of the manufacturing and productive sectors, inflation and the Naira to Dollar exchange rate which is spiraling out of
control is written all over the speech.
“There was no word about the alleged massive looting of the nation’s resources by appointees and party leaders in various sectors.
“Most disturbing for us is the President’s false claim that, “everything I have done in office, every decision I have taken and every trip I have undertaken outside the shores of our land, since I assumed office on 29 May 2023, have been done in the best interest of our country”, what a despicable form of deceit.
“How does his ill advised decision on fuel Subsidy removal without a plan to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians translate into an action taken in the national interest?
“Of what benefit was the millions of the nation’s dwindling foreign reserves frittered away under the guise of attending the climate change summit in Dubai to Nigerians?
“How do we begin to repair the damage being done to our democratic institutions such as the Judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC among others by the APC Administration?
“While we call for prayers for our nation in this critical point of our history, we will continue to call on the National Assembly to look beyond party lines and ensure that the spirit and the letter of our constitution is upheld at all times,“ the statement read.
Meanwhile, the the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has warned that Nigeria politics must not be left in the hands of transactional politicians.
Obi gave the warning in his 2024 New Year message to Nigerians, stating that any attempt to tilt Nigeria to a one-party state is dangerous and should be resisted.
He said, “I am involved in the struggle for a New Nigeria that is Possible and works for all and will remain passionately committed to the crusade. I therefore implore you all who strive for a New Nigeria to remain fully engaged, committed, and resilient as it is and will be Possible.
“In a democratic and secular country like ours, there must be full respect for the separation of powers between the three independent arms of government, as well as between the federating units. For instance, the National Assembly should devote time and commit themselves to diligent performance of their functions like the 2024 budget that requires their prudent examination and subsequent patriotic-oriented approval or rejection.
“We must work assiduously to avoid drifting to a one-party state, or a situation, where the Federal government intervenes unduly in the internal affairs of the states, particularly in circumstances where national security is not threatened. We in the Labour Party have undertaken in the national interest and in our undying commitment to a New Nigeria that is Possible, to remain firmly in opposition and as such, must remain focused going forward. Our collective role in nation-building remains fundamental and obligatory.”
