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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Bola Tinubu to take responsibility for Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship, insisting that Nigerians deserve practical solutions to hunger and poverty rather than political blame games.
The party, through its faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, also urged the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to explain what it is doing to make food affordable, create jobs and improve the living conditions of citizens.
The reaction followed Tinubu’s remarks at the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday, where he blamed opposition parties for the hunger and poverty confronting Nigerians.
“I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did. They created the hunger; they created the poverty. We are trying to eradicate it,” the President said.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, also blamed the PDP for the country’s economic difficulties on Monday.
But in a statement, the Wike-backed PDP faction’s spokesperson, Jungudo Mohammed, described the comments as attempts to evade responsibility and divert public attention from the challenges facing the country.
Mohammed said the ruling party should focus on addressing the economic pressures confronting households instead of blaming previous administrations.
“Rather than engaging in political blame games, the APC should explain what it intends to do to make food affordable, support farmers, strengthen local food production, create jobs, improve security, fight corruption, improve electricity supply, reduce transportation costs, and restore the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians, among other pressing concerns,” he said.
The PDP spokesperson acknowledged that the Tinubu administration had recorded some achievements but argued that such gains could not justify using the party’s 16 years in power as a blanket excuse for the government’s current shortcomings.
He stressed that recognising genuine achievements did not amount to endorsing every government policy or accepting attempts to shift responsibility for present economic difficulties to previous PDP-led administrations.
Mohammed said Nigerians had endured more than 10 years of APC rule and were entitled to clear explanations of what the government had achieved and how it intended to address the country’s pressing challenges.
“After more than APC’s 10 years in office, Nigerians deserve answers, not excuses. The APC must tell Nigerians what it has achieved, outline the concrete measures it is taking to address the country’s present-day challenges, and demonstrate its commitment to improving the welfare of citizens rather than continually dragging the PDP into its own shortcomings,” he said.
The PDP faction also expressed confidence that Nigerians would judge political parties by their records, policies and commitment to public welfare.
It claimed that growing dissatisfaction with the current situation had strengthened calls for the PDP’s return to power, promising better governance, improved living conditions and greater security.
“Our message to the APC is simple: stop the blame game and start taking responsibility. Nigerians deserve solutions, not excuses,” Mohammed said.
He urged Tinubu to account for his administration’s performance and present a credible plan for economic recovery, food security and improved living standards.
The exchange underscores the growing political battle over responsibility for Nigeria’s economic hardship as parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
