From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) Presidential Campaign Organisation has said that President Bola Tinubu is allegedly scared of being booed by Nigerians over his alleged failure, hence his decision not to campaign around the country.
The campaign, in a statement by the Director, Strategic Communication, Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO), Richard Ihediwa, said the President’s decision not to feature in all his campaigns is an aberration in a democracy.
President Tinubu】, at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council at the State House, on Wednesday, had said he would not participate in all his campaigns.
The President, who told his campaign council that he would go everywhere with them, stated that he agreed with the counsel that electioneering activities should not interfere with governance.
Nonetheless, the MDPCO stated that President Tinubu’s decision to stay away from some of his campaigns, apart from being an affront to the electorate, confirms fears that he is allegedly not fit to face the rigours of governance in a country like Nigeria.
“MDPCO considers President Tinubu’s decision not to accompany the ‘Nebuchadnezzar Coalition’ 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 a half years.
“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 around 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,” the campaign stated.
Furthermore, it stated that a president who believes he has performed well in office would be confident to defend his performance before citizens.
According to the campaign, President Tinubu, having allegedly failed to deliver on his promises, and with no meaningful achievement to showcase, is allegedly fishing for excuses not to face the electorate.
“If governance was truly his priority, as he claimed, President or ‘Governor’ Tinubu would not have been globe-trotting and staying away from the theatre of governance. In fact, he should be eager to use the opportunity of the campaign to face Nigerians and take responsibility 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.
“President Tinubu promised jobs and economic prosperity. Painfully, under his watch Nigeria has descended abysmally into economic deprivation and misery with more than 140 million citizens plunged into abject poverty and unable to afford their daily meals and other essentials of life.
“The reckless removal of petrol subsidy, poorly executed flotation of the naira and other policies without adequate protection for vulnerable citizens has plunged millions of households into punishing hardship.
“Hunger has intensified, purchasing power has eroded, and poverty has become an unbearable reality for countless Nigerians. The administration’s economic prescriptions have imposed enormous sacrifices on citizens without delivering the relief and prosperity they were promised,” it stated.