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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has asked President Bola Tinubu to apologise to Nigerians and withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, following what the party described as an admission by the Federal Government that its economic reforms contributed to hardship in the country.
The opposition party said the reported acknowledgement by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, that some of the administration’s reforms contributed to the cost-of-living crisis vindicated its criticism of the government’s economic policies.
APM National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, stated this in a statement in which the party argued that Bagudu’s remarks supported its position that the administration’s policies had imposed additional hardship on Nigerians.
Bagudu, while speaking at the Federal Appointees Strategic Summit in Abuja on Wednesday, had reportedly acknowledged that reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration contributed to cost-of-living pressures confronting Nigerians.
Reacting to the remarks, the APM alleged that the government failed to put adequate safeguards in place before implementing major economic reforms.
The party said critics of the administration had warned that the removal of petrol subsidy, floating of the naira and introduction of taxes without sufficient cushioning measures could adversely affect households and businesses.
“Right from onset, well-meaning Nigerians had cautioned that the abrupt removal of subsidy on petroleum products, floating of the naira, imposition of harsh taxes and other anti-production policies in an economy such as Nigeria would precipitate untold hardship on the people.
“Instead of listening to the voice of reason, the Tinubu administration embarked on an ego trip and chest-thumping that ended up ruining the economy and crippling the productive sector. The result is the growing number of millions of compatriots languishing in multidimensional poverty,” the APM alleged.
The party further blamed the administration’s policies for what it described as the departure of multinational companies, closure of businesses, rising living costs and worsening unemployment.
“Because of President Tinubu’s policies, a sizeable number of multinational companies left our nation in droves; millions of businesses and enterprises that sustained families folded, cost of living skyrocketed, unemployment became widespread, with over 60 per cent of the Nigerian population unable to afford their daily meals, medications and other necessities of life, while corruption and treasury looting fester in government circles,” the party claimed.
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The APM did not provide supporting data for the 60 per cent figure or the other economic and corruption allegations contained in the statement.
The party consequently demanded that Tinubu take responsibility for what it said were the adverse consequences of his administration’s policies and withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest.
“Now that the administration has admitted that it has failed and that it is responsible for the woes of the citizens, it is expected that President Tinubu should take responsibility, apologise to Nigerians and quit the 2027 presidential race, as he has not demonstrated the capacity to effectively run an insightful and productive system.
“The admission by Minister Bagudu firmly settles the fact that the Nigerian system requires a hard reset from the comatose situation it has been plunged into by the All Progressives Congress government,” the party said.
The assertions that the administration had “failed” and that Bagudu’s comments amounted to such an admission were the APM’s interpretation of the minister’s reported remarks.
The opposition party said Nigeria required leadership with what it described as a coherent economic blueprint, policy foresight and adequate safeguards to protect citizens from the adverse effects of government policies.
The APM also used the statement to promote the presidential candidacy of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, claiming that his record in the state demonstrated the approach it wanted replicated at the federal level.
“Nigeria deserves the duplication, at national level, of Engr. Makinde’s record of performance, including growing the economy of Oyo State to become one of the best performing in Nigeria and the West African sub-region,” the party said.
The claim about Oyo State’s economic performance was presented by the APM as part of its case for Makinde’s candidacy.
“Our party therefore urges Nigerians to remain steadfast and continue to rally behind Makinde as we vigorously mobilise the citizens to democratically take back Nigeria from the misrule of the APC, come January 16, 2027,” the party said.
