The opposition Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and others have condemned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the worsening poverty in Nigeria.
Their criticism followed a viral video showing large crowds queuing for foodstuffs at President Bola Tinubu’s residence on Bourdillon Road, Lagos, on Christmas Eve.
The footage, shared by Senator Ali Ndume on his official X account, drew widespread attention.
“Queues for presidential handouts at Bourdillon on Christmas Eve highlight a sobering reality. Poverty knows no tribe, religion, politics, or region. It is a universal challenge that demands collective action and sustainable solutions,” Ndume remarked.
The incident comes amid rising hardship across the country, including recent stampedes at food distribution events in Oyo, Anambra, and Abuja, which claimed over 50 lives.
Opposition Criticisms
Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, expressed concern about the growing poverty, accusing the APC of turning Nigerians into beggars.
“The statistics are out there for everyone to see. Imagine buying a bag of rice for N100,000 during Christmas. It’s now clear to the blind and audible to the deaf that there is hunger in the land,” Ifoh stated.
LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also lamented the dire economic situation, blaming Tinubu’s policies.
“It’s heartbreaking to see a nation with so much promise struggling to provide for its people,” Obi said through his media aide, Umar Ibrahim.
The PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, accused Tinubu’s administration of “weaponising poverty.”
“Nigerians may reach a point of desperation where they turn against the political elite. This presidency has reduced the dignity of the common man to a pauper state,” he warned.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Young People’s Party, Egbeola Martins, called for an urgent review of the government’s economic policies, particularly the subsidy removal, which he described as “anti-masses.”
APC’s Defence
In response, APC National Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim dismissed the criticisms, defending Tinubu’s actions as consistent with his longstanding generosity.
“Tinubu has been doing this for ages. This is not new. The only difference is that now, as President, his generosity is under greater scrutiny,” Ibrahim said.
He accused the opposition of attempting to incite Nigerians against Tinubu, stating, “The critics grandstand, but if Tinubu extended this generosity to them, they would queue up too. This is a man who genuinely feels for the ordinary citizen.”
Ibrahim argued that the President’s actions reflect his commitment to alleviating hardship rather than a political manoeuvre, citing Tinubu’s history of philanthropy.
As poverty and unemployment rates soar, with over 40% of Nigerians living below the poverty line, the call for economic reforms grows louder. Critics insist that immediate action is needed to prevent the nation from sliding further into economic despair.
The APC government continues to face mounting pressure to address these challenges and implement sustainable solutions for the benefit of the populace.
