Hardship may trigger nationwide agitation worse than EndSARS — PDP warns

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that frustration in the country is already degenerating into a nationwide restiveness that may result to breakdown of law and order if allowed to fester.

It said that the situation is getting to a boiling point and can trigger a nationwide agitation that might be worse than the October 2020 EndSARS if not addressed immediately.

The party told the Federal Government that there’s a limit people can bear pains, cautioning the APC-led Federal Government to note that its unrelenting culture of arrogance, impunity and criminal pillaging of the nation’s resources is akin to kneeling on the necks of Nigerians.

The PDP further warned that there is a limit to what the people can bear under an administration that remains arrogant, inhumane, unconcerned and insensitive to their plights occasioned by its misrule.

The party, in a statement by its spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, asked, “Is it not an unpardonable dereliction of duty that while the nation is in turmoil and agonizing under a collapsed national grid, protracted fuel crisis, distressed aviation sector, plummeting currency, crippled production and commercial activities, President Muhammadu Buhari remains aloof and absent, as always?

“The failure by President Buhari, who also doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources to take immediate action, other than the snobbish stance by his presidency that ‘heavens will not fall’ because of fuel scarcity amounts to daring Nigerians to do their worse.

“It is often said that when a government abdicates its responsibility to the citizens at whose pleasure it should serve, then that government is complicit in the suffering of its people and a beneficiary of their woes.

“Sadly today, thousands of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, the drivers of the economy are folding up daily, industries are relocating to neighbouring countries, universities are on strike, the aviation sector is on the brink of collapse, our railway is tottering to a halt due to lack of diesel, police are threatening to go on strike, insecurity is on the rise due to the collapse of the informal economic sector, yet Mr. President had time to holiday in England!  

“If President Buhari could personally communicate on issues that concern his fizzling party, the APC, while in England, it is inconceivable that he failed and neglected, as always, to attend to life discounting experiences and pains encountered by Nigerians daily by the thoughtless and inhumane policies of his government,” PDP said.

The party said that President Buhari needs to be reminded of his duty to Nigerians, to in the least, show some empathy, competence and concern as the country rapidly drifts towards a looming precipice, adding, “The frustration in the country is already degenerating into a nationwide restiveness that may result to the breakdown of law and order if allowed to fester.”

With petrol now selling between N400 and N500 per litre, diesel at over N800 per litre, kerosene at over N750 and aviation fuel at N670 per litre, the party said that millions of businesses, employments and sources of livelihood have collapsed in both urban and rural areas, resulting in acute hardship and widespread social tension across the country.

“Our party fears that the situation is getting to a boiling point and can trigger a nationwide agitation that might be worse than the October 2020 EndSARS if not addressed immediately,” PDP said.

The party insisted that President Buhari must take responsibility for the criminal racketeering in his government by APC leaders, which has led to the crippling of the economy under his watch.  

“He should stop abdicating his duties by sending his aides to issue wild claims, fake promises and noncommittal apologies on the abysmal failures of his administration,” the PDP said.(Daily Independent)