The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s 64th Independence Day address, accusing him of making false claims about his administration’s achievements. In a statement released on Tuesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, described the speech as a “complete waste of time” that failed to address Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
According to the PDP, President Tinubu’s address did not reflect the struggles of millions of Nigerians facing economic hardship, unemployment, and poverty. Ologunagba claimed that the President’s emphasis on attracting $30 billion in foreign direct investment and reforming the political economy ignored the realities on the ground, including rising fuel prices and unemployment.
The opposition party argued that the speech further highlighted the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s lack of sensitivity toward the suffering of the public, calling the President’s performance claims “false” and his promises “empty.” The PDP suggested that Tinubu should engage more directly with citizens to better understand the real economic challenges they face, instead of relying on “fabricated statistics.”
In contrast, the APC defended the President’s speech, dismissing the PDP’s criticism as a reflection of its frustration and irrelevance. APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, stated that since the PDP’s departure from power, the country has experienced peace and stability, particularly in Abuja. He asserted that President Tinubu’s government is making tangible progress, which the PDP failed to achieve during its time in office.
The APC emphasized that under their leadership, Nigeria has seen improvements, including the restoration of peace, and dismissed the PDP’s remarks as an “afterthought” aimed at discrediting the government’s accomplishments. Ibrahim expressed confidence that President Tinubu would continue to move Nigeria forward.
