Nairametrics| Former ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in disarray since they lost the Presidential Election to the All Progressive Congress (APC). Since then, they have gotten from bad to worse and its inter party rivalries has created a distraction that has stopped it from being the formidable opposition we had hoped for. However, on the few occasions they have been matured enough to play their part as the opposition, they have been anything else but disjointed.
The party last week responded to the Presidential launch of the controversial Economic Growth and Recovery Plan, by the ruling party in Abuja last week. In a scathing press release they tore in on the plan with focus on a remark made by Presidential Buhari.
The president has said they will be “approaching the solution to our economic challenges with the same will and commitment we have demonstrated in the fight against corruption, terrorism and militancy.” The PDP saw an opening and wasted no time in ripping through the ruling party. Here was their response;
“The recovery and growth plan is a proposal which requires implementation but we are worried because of the comments of President Muhammadu Buhari during the launch when he said, ‘I want to assure all Nigerians that we are approaching the solution to our economic challenges with the same will and commitment we have demonstrated in the fight against corruption, terrorism and militancy.
“It is therefore instructive to note that if the Economic Recovery Plan will follow the way of the anti-corruption war so far, then, the plan document is dead on arrival.
You can get the rest of their press release here
It’s hard to argue against this analogy. The Nigerian Government has handled its anti-corruption war poorly and has registered success in the pages of Newspapers. Till date, we are yet to see any land mark convictions. The prosecutors of the government have been criticised for failing to clearly articulate and prosecute their cases and have instead bungled and mishandled evidence against the accused. They have also been criticised for holding suspects in detention in clear violation of the rule of law.
Whilst, the fight against prosecution is technically different from the fight to save the economy, the government has also shown similar sloppiness in the handling of the economy. From the delayed 2016 budget, to currency crisis, to lack of clear fiscal policy, the government has failed in nearly all twist and turns. The resultant recession and galloping inflation rate, though partly the fault of the PDP has been exacerbated by the sloppiness and lack of leadership in the APC.
There is a little glimmer of hope, especially since the Vice President stepped in as Acting President, while Buhari was away. A lot has been achieved since then and for the first time Nigerians can at least see a cohesive plan to move the economy forward. For now, we hope the PDP can also lead as the mouth piece of the opposition and critics of the government.