Democracy Day: APC tackles Atiku, PDP over comment on Tinubu’s reforms

The ruling All Progressives Congress has faulted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party for blaming President Bola Tinubu for the current economic hardship in the country.

In two separate statements issued in Abuja on Tuesday to commemorate Democracy Day, celebrated annually on June 12, both Atiku and the PDP slammed Tinubu for the hyperinflation rocking the economy.

Atiku and PDP warned that the ‘reaction of hungry people is better imagined.’

The PDP candidate also urged Tinubu to listen to the masses and review his policies, which he claimed are making it extremely difficult for citizens to afford the necessities of life.

However, the ruling APC insisted that reforms such as the implementation of fuel subsidy removal and the floating naira are necessary to salvage the country from total collapse.

Reacting in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, the APC National Director, Bala Ibrahim, expressed disappointment at the statements issued by Atiku and his party, saying they are being economical with the truth.

Ibrahim stated that it is no secret that both the President and the late hero of democracy, Chief MKO Abiola share a lot in common in terms of ideology and democratic values.

He said, “With due respect, I think Atiku is being economical with the truth. He started well by praising the front runners. But he is not sincere in the sense that the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be likened to the ambition of Chief MKO Abiola. This is a government that has come to actualize the ambition of Abiola.

“Virtually what the government is doing is more or less using the blueprint Abiola would have used to govern Nigeria. And it is doing so with the aim and objective of uniting Nigeria and making the country be governed according to the tenets of democracy as envisaged by Abiola.

“So for Atiku to be apportioning blame on the government of Tinubu and accusing it of visiting poverty in Nigeria, I think he is being economic. He is playing politics with the truth, which is unfair. Atiku and the PDP should carry the bulk of the blame. The ambition of PDP is the reverse of what the late MKO Abiola stands for, which is virtually an anti-people programme. Atiku is only playing politics and playing it wrongly.”

He added that the citizens are in safe hands, noting that reforms would take time.

“Nigerians are in safe hands, especially with the change that is supposed to bring reform in governance, economy, and institutions and get those things done overnight. It will take time. It is like a fracture or dislocation.

“It takes time to fix and while you are fixing it there are pains and anguish on the people. But at the end of the day, there is going to be ovation all the way, which is what Tinubu is going to bring to Nigeria.”