The Nigerian government (FG) responded sharply to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors’ call for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation, escalating political tensions in the country. This development raises questions about the effectiveness of current governance and the potential for further political polarization.
On Sunday, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris issued a statement refuting the PDP governors’ demand. He questioned the party’s record during its previous time in power, asking, “Why did the PDP fail to turn the country around during its extended shot at power?” and dismissing their call as a “distraction.”
This response comes after the PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, warned last week that Nigeria under President Tinubu was on a dangerous trajectory, potentially resembling the economic and social struggles of Venezuela.
On Saturday, the PDP governors advised Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress to resign over the state of the nation if they could not provide sustainable solutions.
But responding on Sunday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, in a statement signed by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, knocked the PDP governors.
He said, “It is our considered view that the PDP and its governors should not be seeking, through the back door of intimidation, what they have consistently failed to achieve by democratic means, since 2015.
“Those who could not bring transformational change when they had a lengthy chance to, should not seek to interrupt or distract those who are busy at work on the presidential vision that Nigerians elected them to implement.”
Explaining what the present administration was currently working on, the minister explained, “The administration of President Bola Tinubu has, since inception, generously extended financial support to all the state governments, regardless of partisan affiliation. In addition, the removal of the petrol subsidy —which, incidentally, was one of the main planks of the PDP presidential campaign—has swelled the revenues of all states, including the PDP states. To whom more has been given, more is therefore expected.
“The President and his administration recognise the unfinished business of revamping our national economy kickstarted by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, through programmes focused on large-scale infrastructure, social welfare, prioritising the equipping and welfare of the military and security agencies, and reclaiming Nigeria’s strategic place in the comity of nations.
“Nigerians have not forgotten that it was the APC administration that cleared several liabilities left behind by the PDP government, such as subsidy claims by oil marketers, Paris Club refunds, unpaid pensions, gratuities, and salary arrears owed various categories of pensioners from liquidated and existing state-owned enterprises.”
