The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the House of Representatives has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently address the worsening hardship and insecurity facing Nigerians, warning that his administration is failing to live up to its responsibilities.
The lawmakers, after an emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, said Nigerians “deserve better treatment” than what they are currently experiencing, stressing that insecurity, economic hardship, and disregard for the rule of law have become the order of the day.
Leader of the Caucus, Hon. Fred Agbedi, who addressed journalists, lamented that citizens are “groaning in their pains daily,” with many resorting to suicide due to neglect by the government.
“Not only killings, there’s a lot of hardship in this country and Nigerians are groaning in their pains daily. People are committing suicide because the government is not paying attention to them. Nigerians have come to know that PDP is the only party that can bring succour to them,” Agbedi said.
He accused the Tinubu-led APC administration of abandoning Nigerians at their time of greatest need, citing the president’s foreign trips while citizens are left to contend with insecurity and hunger.
“We can imagine a situation where Nigerians are killed and Mr. President is far away in Brazil and other countries. We remember that when the Chibok incident happened, President Goodluck Jonathan was out of the country, but immediately it happened, he cut off his trip and returned to Nigeria to show solidarity with Nigerians and ensure government was on ground. Over 10,000 people have been killed in about two years and it is mind-boggling,” Agbedi said.
The caucus further accused the federal government of “holding the local government administration of Osun State to ransom” by refusing to release funds despite a valid court judgment.
“We want to also use this opportunity to ask the federal government to obey valid court judgments on the local government elections that were held in Osun State. Osun State is led by a PDP governor who is delivering dividends of democracy to his people. It is anti-democratic for a supposedly democratic president to withhold funds due to validly elected local governments,” Agbedi stressed.
On the rising wave of killings across the country, the lawmakers said the APC government has failed Nigerians and lacks the moral authority to continue in office.
“Massive killings are going on across the country. A government that cannot protect its people is not fit to remain in office,” the caucus declared.
The PDP lawmakers also decried the plight of local contractors who are being owed by the federal government, noting that while foreign contractors are settled, Nigerians who have delivered services are left unpaid.
“We will ensure that whatever is owed to Nigerian indigenous contractors who have delivered services is paid, so that they can feed their families and sustain their businesses,” Agbedi said.
The lawmakers reaffirmed support for the party’s internal decisions, including the emergence of Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagun as the new National Chairman of the PDP.
“The PDP, being a party that complies with its constitution, has once again proved its commitment to due process. We are proud of the peaceful manner the NEC meeting was conducted, with support from governors, former ministers, party chairmen, the BOT and other organs,” Agbedi said.
The caucus called on Nigerians to prepare to vote out the APC in 2027.
“Nigerians are groaning. Mr. President, pay attention to the sufferings of Nigeria. We urge Nigerians to insist on good governance and ensure that in 2027 they vote the APC out,” Agbedi added.