PDP: What manner of an opposition?

Governors elected on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) platform met yesterday in Abuja and addressed a press conference, where their Chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed, read out their position on the country’s economic and security situation.

As critical stakeholders and leaders at the sub-national level, the PDP governors certainly have the right to state their position on national concerns as is expected.

However, as leaders in the country who are members of two important constitutional organs of government – the National Economic Council, which is the highest economic management organ of the National Council of States, the PDP governors did not conduct themselves in a manner befitting their roles as leaders.

It is far-fetched when PDP governors, who are supposed to be major players in driving economic growth and prosperity for the citizens in their respective states, mischievously and falsely compare Nigeria’s current economic challenges to Venezuela.

 Though Nigeria is going through some rough patches, which are being addressed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the situation is nowhere near what is happening in Venezuela.

The Nigerian economy is still very strong and is expected to record a 3% GDP growth this year. The economy is meeting financial obligations to lenders at home and abroad.

The Nigerian government is running effectively, and the government can pay all its bills while maintaining a healthy trade balance with trading partners worldwide.

While opposition politicians are expected to play politics, it should be done within the bounds of truth and fidelity to facts. It is unconscionable of PDP Governors to manipulate facts and misinform Nigerians about the country’s true state of affairs.

Since President Tinubu assumed office, the revenue available to the three tiers of government has more than doubled. All 36 States, including the 774 Local Governments, have been receiving significantly larger allocations on the back of the reforms being pursued by President Tinubu to reposition the national economy.

It is on record that most States controlled by PDP owe workers and pensioners months of unpaid salary and pension arrears. The PDP Governors have defaulted in paying gratuities to their retired workers. It is also a fact that many of the PDP Governors have not paid N30,000 minimum wage to their workers since it took effect more than 4 years ago. All of these anomalies in their states contribute significantly to the economic pressure their citizens face.

If PDP governors are genuinely interested in the living conditions of Nigerians and are not just stirring up disaffection and ill-will towards the federal government, they should meet their obligations to workers, pensioners, and local contractors and see the multiplier effect.

It is disappointing that PDP Governors talk about rising costs of living and food when they have not done much to increase food production in their States. The land in Nigeria belongs to the States, not the Federal Government.

PDP Governors, in their communique yesterday, did not tell Nigerians how they are supporting farmers in their states to boost food production – a responsibility that is strictly within their purview. Instead, they shift all the blame to the Federal Government, while shirking their own responsibilities to the people they govern.

The All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Tinubu is working assiduously to address the current challenges. The President is working with his security chiefs to eliminate all security threats wherever they exist.  The success of the efforts is also reflected in the over 700 abducted Nigerians who have been rescued from captivity

The Central Bank is addressing the problem of volatility in the exchange rate, and the country is beginning to see stability that will eventually lead to the naira gaining its actual value against the dollar and other convertible currencies.

The PDP can do better, by being a constructive critique, rather than chasing shadows.