Opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed what it described as another anthology of lies by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
In a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, it described the press conference addressed on Monday by the Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed “as another anthology of lies, false and bogus performance claims by the failed and rudderless All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.”
Following is the full statement titled: “Lai Mohammed’s Press Conference, Another APC’s Anthology of Lies – PDP…Says it Reminds Nigerians of Tony Momoh”:
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dismisses the press conference addressed today, March 28, 2022 by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as another anthology of lies, false and bogus performance claims by the failed and rudderless All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
“The hurried press conference is another desperate and disoriented stunt by the APC administration to divert public attention from the exposed corruption records of the APC national leadership as well as the manifest collapse of security, command and control structure under President Buhari.
“The APC administration in its arrogance in failure attempted again to downplay and treat with levity, the excruciating economic hardship, hunger and other life discounting experiences being faced by Nigerians daily because of severe food crisis, lingering fuel emergency, high cost of essential commodities and services, closure of schools, insecurity and mass killing, collapse of healthcare system and decayed public infrastructure under its watch.
“It is the height of impunity and arrogance that the Minister of Information and Culture, could address the media to claim that the APC government has achieved food sufficiency, particularly in rice production, when in reality, there is famine in the land with the price of food items, especially rice soaring by over 400 percent under the APC with its “pyramid of lies”
“A bag of rice which sold for N7,500 under the PDP now sells for over N30,000, a measure of bean which sold for N350 under the PDP now sells for over N1000, a measure of garri which sold for N120 under the PDP now sells for N700, a bottle of palm oil which sold for N250 under the PDP now sells for over N1000.
“In the same vein, a kilo of meat which sold for N700 under the PDP now sells for N3000, a liter of petrol which sold for N87 under the PDP now sells for as high as N400 to N500 while a liter of diesel which sold for N110 under the PDP now sells for over N800, yet Lai Mohammed provocatively claims that Nigerians are better off under the APC.
“Nigerians know better and the question to ask is, Is your life better now in 2022 under the APC than it was in 2015 under the PDP?
“It is ludicrous and insensitive that the APC government went to the media to list non-existence roads, bridges, agricultural and health projects as achievements. More pathetic is the APC’s attempt to claim credit for development projects initiated and implemented by successive PDP administrations including in our railways, aviation, agricultural, healthcare, education, telecommunications, banking and manufacturing sectors among others.
“It is laughable that the APC government is also claiming credit for critical projects in various parts of the country which are being funded by resources mobilized by the PDP administrations under the framework of counterpart funding from International Partners and bodies.
“The only legitimate achievements of the APC government include its corruption record (second most corrupt in West Africa and 154 out of 180 in Global Corruption Index), over 33 percent unemployment rate, a weakened currency at over N500 to a dollar, N33 trillion foreign debt and still counting and the siphoning of over N16 trillion by APC leaders.
“The PDP cautions the APC to note that its continued arrogance in failure is daily confronting and reminding Nigerians of the statement made by one of its founding members, the late Prince Tony Momoh in April 2016 and the consequences are better imagined.”
Mohammed, had on Monday, alleged that the PDP’s desperation to return to power in 2023 was responsible for its plan “to sabotage” the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
He had explained “Why PDP Wants To Distort Buhari’s Achievements, Misinform Nigerians.”
The minister had leveled the allegation while briefing journalists in Abuja, noting that the plan of the main opposition party was to overheat the polity, distort Buhari’s achievement, and misinform Nigerians.
His words: “As you know, the folks on the other side have been doing everything in recent times to overheat the polity, distort the achievements of our administration, and spread misinformation.
”Yes, it is very cold out there for the hungry and desperate opposition, but every indication is that they don’t even want to wait for the 2023 elections before testing their popularity or acceptability at the polls.
”How else does one explain their court case seeking the declaration of our convention as illegal? How do you explain their threat of another EndSARS that pushed Nigerians to the brink? How do you explain their glaring misinformation regarding the nation’s state of affairs?
“Gentlemen, there is nothing wrong in having a fiery and viable opposition in a democracy. We were there before and we remain the ones to beat in terms of determined, viable, and relentless opposition. But, in our time, not once did we advocate the destruction of Nigeria just because we couldn’t have our way.
“Not once did we seek to gain power via a desperate court action. If you destroy the country you are seeking to govern, what country will you govern? Must you cut your nose to spite your face?”
‘Where do kidnappers rescue their victims’? Lai Mohammed asks PDP over 2023 return plan.
The minister also questioned the rationale behind the opposition party’s moves to return to power in 2023.
”In their most recent act of desperation, they sought to erase seven years of unprecedented achievements by the Buhari Administration. In the most egregious show of shamelessness and a blatant refusal to be remorseful, they even had the audacity to express righteous indignation that the damage they inflicted on the country in their 16 years of misrule has not been totally undone in just seven years.
“In other words, those who brought the country to its knees are now accusing those working hard to repair things of non-performance. They said they are ready to rescue Nigeria. Pray, where do kidnappers rescue their victims? These same guys who kidnapped the fortunes of their country are suddenly posing as rescuers. Caveat Emptor. Buyers beware! Nigerians Beware!”
“We are not under any illusion that they will stop their misrepresentation.
“No, because in their desperation to return to complete their demolition work on Nigeria, these folks will stop at nothing to paint us bad.
“But the good news is that Nigerians remain traumatized by their 16-year misrule, and will not return to ‘Egypt’ by allowing the ‘demolition gang’ back to office. In the meantime, let them present their 16-year stewardship in all the areas we have listed above and let Nigerians judge!”
