– Says Nigerians Not Deceived by President’s Political Gimmick
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said President Bola Tinubu is in “panic mode”, describing his latest move to expand CNG-powered transportation as a way of reducing transport fares in the country as a mere “political gimmick” that is coming three years too late.
Reacting to the emergency meeting between the President and state governors on measures to reduce transportation costs, the ADC says it believes that the President and the governors are not genuinely interested in bringing down the cost of transportation across the country and are merely reacting to the questions raised by opposition’s plan to introduce targeted production subsidy.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said if the President believes that expanding CNG transportation could help to lower the cost of transportation nationwide why was this intervention not part of the plan to remove subsidy on petrol from the beginning.
“They left the people to suffer for three years, and now that the election approaches they suddenly realise that they could make transportation cheaper, “ the party says, asking, “ If CNG buses can provide cheaper transportation today, why were they not rapidly deployed when Nigerians first began to pay the heavy price for their wrong-headed subsidy removal policy?”
The party said the timing was particularly revealing, coming shortly after its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, placed targeted subsidies and the cost of living at the centre of the national political debate.
“Why did it take Atiku’s subsidy plan for this government to suddenly start running helter-skelter and to realise the need to bring down the cost of transportation?” Abdullahi asked.
According to the ADC, Nigerians would not be deceived by the “gimmick” because they are able to distinguish between a government responding to their suffering and a government responding to threat of electoral defeat.
“For three years, Nigerians complained about transport fares, food prices and collapsing purchasing power. The government told them to endure. Now that the election is approaching, the same government has suddenly discovered that transportation is too expensive and government intervention is necessary. That is not leadership. That is cynical politics.”
The ADC said the hurried measures being considered by the government reinforces its position that the administration had the capacity to cushion the effects of its harsh economic policies all along but simply refused to do so until its electoral interests are now threatened.
“No doubt, if these interventions are possible now, they were possible. The difference is that then, President Tinubu did not think it was necessary to support suffering citizens until now when he needs their votes.”
“A president who truly cares would not wait for three years and an approaching election before treating the cost of transportation as an emergency. One thing is clear, President Tinubu is not suddenly responding to the suffering of Nigerians. He is responding to ADC and Atiku; he is responding to the impending reality of the 2027 election that shows that he has failed on security, failed to create jobs, and failed to bring down the cost of living,” the ADC said.
Signed:
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
National Publicity Secretary
African Democratic Congress (ADC)
