The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh on Tuesday
berated the Federal Government for trying to use their bogus welfare
programme and phantom capital projects as cover and conduit to syphon
the funds to satisfy partisan interests, particularly to settle huge
campaign debts.
“It
is obvious that this budget is an extension of the campaign promises of
the APC government, presented as a manifesto filled with bogus promises
which implementation will be inconclusive, thereby allowing the APC to
once again deny their promises.
“There
has never been any known economy in the world where government
deliberately mortgage the future of its nation by borrowing excessively
to finance partisan interests while hiding under bogus welfare
programmes. This is moreso important as the APC in reeling out their
bogus campaign promises never informed Nigerians that they would
mortgage their future through excessive borrowing.
“We
have it on good authority that this is the first in the series of APC
borrowings which would leave the future generation of Nigerians under
the burden of huge debts after four years”
The
PDP said the budget clearly shows that after seven months in power,
President Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) are
yet to differentiate between governance and campaign propaganda.
“By
all standards, the 2016 budget, the first major economic policy outing
of this government, is completely unrealistic and duplicitously
embellished with impractical predications, a development that confirms
fears by economy watchers and investors that this administration is
obviously ill-equipped for governance.
“We
are indeed shocked that President Buhari and his minister of
information have come up with two different reasons for the current fuel
crisis in the country. While we appreciate the President’s apology, we
think it is high time he called this minister to order as his excessive
propaganda and blame game are ridiculing this administration and the
image of the nation.
“Furthermore,
it is instructive to note the official endorsement of Mr. President to
the devaluation of the naira as against his campaign promise of firming
up the value of our currency even to the much vaunted one naira to one
dollar.
‘Does
it mean that Mr. President lied his way to power, or that he did not
understand the complexities of governance when he was making his false
promises to Nigerians?
“In
future, there is need to regulate campaign promises so that we will not
end up with a government that promises to climb Mount Everest with bare
hands and end up mortgaging our future with orchestrated borrowings.
“Finally,
we want to request Mr. President to once again to involve experienced
and well-tested hands in the management of the economy and budgeting
processes. This economy is not for Mr. President, neither is it for the
APC. The progress of the economy is for all Nigerians and as such, due
care should taken to save ourselves from unrealistic and deceptive
programmes.
Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
Source: Naijamember