The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council has disputed Vice President Kashim Shettima's assertion that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu saved Nigeria from economic collapse. According to Shettima, Tinubu inherited an economy teetering on the verge of collapse and took difficult decisions to prevent a deeper crisis. Shettima's comments were made during a visit to President Tinubu at his Lagos residence.
Shettima defended the administration's economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the realignment of multiple foreign exchange rates. He acknowledged the hardship caused by these reforms but maintained they were necessary to stabilize the economy. The Vice President also revealed that the administration inherited foreign reserves of about $3.9 billion, reflecting the severity of the economic challenges confronting the government.
The Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, reacted to Shettima's statement, accusing him of attempting to rewrite the APC's record while defending the Tinubu administration. Ologbondiyan argued that Shettima's claim raised questions about the performance of the APC government under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ologbondiyan stated that Shettima's description of Nigeria as being on the road to "Caracas" before Tinubu assumed office amounted to an indictment of the APC, which controlled the Federal Government for eight years under Buhari. He also noted that Tinubu had previously defended Buhari's administration and promised to build on its achievements, making it difficult for the current administration to distance itself from the previous government.
The ADC council spokesman criticized the administration over its handling of infrastructure and public services, including roads, electricity, and public institutions. He emphasized that the rising cost of living remained the immediate concern for ordinary Nigerians, rather than what he described as political propaganda. Ologbondiyan also rejected the claim that Tinubu had saved the country from economic collapse.
Ologbondiyan alleged that the administration had worsened the economic situation, citing unprecedented hunger, hyperinflation, naira devaluation, insecurity, mass unemployment, and excruciating cost of living. He dismissed Shettima's reference to "Caracas," saying Nigerians were already experiencing conditions associated with the comparison.
The ADCPCC spokesman questioned the government's latest promise to introduce 10,600 electric tricycles, 300 buses, and electric taxis under an e-logistics programme. He urged Nigerians to assess the government based on its delivery rather than fresh promises. The campaign council called on Shettima and the APC to concentrate on the challenges confronting Nigerians rather than attempting to rewrite the country's political history.
Key points
- The ADC PCC disputes Vice President Kashim Shettima's claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rescued Nigeria from economic collapse.
- Shettima defended the administration's economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange rate realignment.
- The ADC PCC criticized the administration's handling of infrastructure and public services, citing rising costs of living as a major concern.
