The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO) has asked President Bola Tinubu to either face Nigerians in all the states or drop his reelection ambition.
During the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council on Wednesday, Tinubu had stated that he would skip some campaign rallies.
The President, who hinged his decision on the fact that he did not want governance to suffer, however, promised to find out time to speak with Nigerians.
But reacting in a statement on Thursday, Richard Ihediwa, Director of Strategic Communications of the
MDPCO, said the APM campaign considers Tinubu’s decision not to accompany the Campaign Council to every state of the federation as a “desperate attempt to evade public resentment, knowing that his government has hopelessly renewed the anger of Nigerians, rather than their hope in the past three and half years.”
Ihediwa said the decision not only constitutes a serious “affront” to the Nigerian electorate, but also makes a caricature of democratic ethos”.
“Besides, Mr. President’s decision and his confabulatory statement further confirm fears by Nigerians that he is not fit to face the rigours of governing a nation like Nigeria.”
“The decision not to campaign across the country also reinforces public apprehension that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not ready for a free, fair and credible election but “plotting to circumvent and compromise the process against the Will of the people.
“A president who believes he has performed well should be confident to defend his record before the people. However, having failed in all of his promises and having no meaningful achievements to boast of, President Tinubu is now fishing for excuses not to face the people.
“If governance was truly his priority, as he claimed, President Tinubu would not have been globe-trothing and staying away from the theater of governance. In fact, he should be eager to use the opportunity of the campaign to face Nigerians and take responsibly for his failures.
“Mr. President is reminded that he told Nigerians not to vote for him in 2027 if he fails to fix electricity in the country. Today, electricity has become more epileptic and Nigerians pay 10 times higher the amount they paid on tariff before this administration.”
APM said the “reckless removal of petrol subsidy, poorly executed floatation of the Naira and other policies without adequate protection for vulnerable citizens has plunged millions of households into punishing hardship”.
The party said Tinubu could not continue to demand another mandate without coming out to campaign and account for the conditions under which Nigerians currently live.
“If President Tinubu is so fatigued, that he cannot go round the country to canvass for votes, then he should withdraw from the race as Nigerians are not ready to continue with an absentee and lethargic president that lacks the capacity and capability to lead from the front.
“Nigerians at this moment earnestly desire a youthful, energetic and active President with stamina for leadership. This is why they are clamouring for the Presidential Candidate of the APM, Seyi Makinde, whose Reset Nigeria Agenda offers solutions for the security, economic and social challenges confronting our nation.”
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