The All Progressives Congress has strongly criticized former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for urging Nigerian youths to take to the streets to protest the country’s economic hardship.
Recall that Amaechi had expressed disappointment that youths have not seriously protested the high cost of living in Nigeria. However, the APC has described his comments as insensitive and unpatriotic.
In a statementon Friday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, accused Amaechi of attempting to incite violence and exploit citizens’ economic discomfort for his own gain. Morka emphasized that Nigerians understand the current economic challenges are temporary and part of President Bola Tinubu’s necessary reforms.
The APC expressed optimism that Nigerians will not resort to street violence, instead supporting the administration’s efforts to transform the economy. The party urged citizens to disregard Amaechi’s remarks, labeling him and his allies as “naysayers” who only criticize without offering solutions, according to the Guardian.
The APC statement highlighted the party’s commitment to addressing economic challenges and ensuring a better future for Nigerians. The criticism of Amaechi’s comments reflects the ongoing tensions between the APC and opposition figures.
The development has sparked debate on the role of opposition figures in addressing economic challenges and the appropriateness of calling for protests. The APC’s response underscores its determination to maintain stability and support President Tinubu’s administration.
Morka said: “Amaechi’s comments are insensitive, god-awful and unpatriotic, coming from one of Nigeria’s longest serving and highest ranking political freeloaders.
“Attempting to hoodwink Nigerians into his web of false empathy and incitement to violence is hypocritical, provocative, and dangerous.”
He said Nigerians were highly perceptive, discerning, and mindful that the current economic discomforts associated with the President Bola Tinubu administration’s inevitable reforms were transient.
“It is nauseating to think these naysayer tribesmen who did absolutely nothing to improve the economy or living conditions for Nigerians while they were in office are now pontificating endlessly about what and how things should be done, but didn’t and couldn’t do while in power.
“It is as though they only regain their senses and discover their talents for governance when they are out of power.
“A tribe of naysayers is what they are, who never see any good, only gloom, filled with bile and disdain for the determined strides of APC-administration of Tinubu to transform our country’s economy for the benefit of present and future generations of Nigerians,” the APC spokesman concluded.
