The African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the decision of government to share palliatives to the people is not an option to solving the economic hardship in the country.
The National Chairman Dr. Ralphs Okey Nwosu, at a press conference in Abuja on Monday said palliative, which he described as “a refugee camp food sharing system” is unhealthy and demeaning.
Instead, Nwosu advised that government should support youth and women entrepreneurs, farmers, and industrialists to power the economy and provide jobs.
“Our security operatives need support to wipe away banditry and restore security. This will give confidence to investors, foreign and local,” he stated.
According to him, palliative sharing “is evil, sacrilegious, dehumanising and will create ill-wind that can only result to a circus of corruption and frustration.”
Nwosu accused elected officials at all levels of extravagance and corruption, regretting that “In the midst of general poverty our legislators collect billions of naira and trailer loads of rice as palliatives for their constituents, while the governors and presidency and their appointees now have huge monthly allocations from FACC for the elusive palliatives. And yet hunger persists.”
He stated that Nigerians have no business being treated as refuges, adding that what the people need is empowerment to rejuvenate the system.
“They need their government to create the enabling environment and a clear strategic roadmap for a collaborative and dynamic all-round development,” he said.
The National Chairman wondered where the government is channelling the revenue from the over 450 percent increase in the price of fuel, except to maintain the lavish lifestyle of its officials.
“They have put the entire country into another hiking of tax and electricity tariffs, and jackpots on every revenue platform to the detriment of Nigerians.
“Manufacturing companies are fleeing, investors are repelled by the policies and Nigeria and the people die gradually,” he regretted.
Nwosu called for purposeful leadership in the country, stating that the ADC has been in the forefront of transitioning and envisioning clear pathway for the nation.
“Despite the vagaries in our polity, ADC remains the learning organisation and political party that has continued to champion collaboration, coalition building and alliances to birth a new Nigeria,” he added.
He blamed the political class and the judiciary for the nation’s problems, but praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the sacrifice for the nation’s democracy to succeed.
“I am sure we can recall the death of INEC officials for standing firm to protect democratic mandates, and those who had guns pointed at them, and none of the political parties and the citizen stood with INEC in court. And the legislative chambers have never sanctioned the culprits,” Nwosu stated.
