The Labour Party (LP) has expressed dismay over what it perceives as the emptiness of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s New Year speech, labeling it as hypocritical, deceitful, and lacking empathy. The party contends that the speech highlights the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) guiding principles of hypocrisy and insensitivity.
In a statement signed by Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, the party criticized the President and his handlers for not including words of comfort for the families affected by the Christmas Eve massacre in Plateau State, where over 200 people were killed by terrorists.
The statement reads, “The President’s helplessness in the face of his glaring failure to address the critical issues of insecurity, decayed infrastructure, collapse of the manufacturing and productive sectors, inflation, and the naira to the dollar exchange rate, which is spiraling out of control, is written all over the speech.
The LP expressed disappointment that President Tinubu did not address the alleged massive looting of the nation’s resources by appointees and party leaders in various sectors. The party also criticized the President’s decision on fuel subsidy removal without a plan to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, questioning the benefits of spending millions of the nation’s foreign reserves on the climate change summit in Dubai.
Furthermore, the LP raised concerns about the damage being done to democratic institutions, including the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the APC administration. The party called on the National Assembly to uphold the spirit and letter of the Constitution, urging them to prioritize the nation’s interest above party lines.
While acknowledging the need for prayers for the nation, the Labour Party remains critical of the administration’s actions and pledges to continue advocating for the adherence to constitutional principles in these challenging times.
