The recent statement from the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, in response to criticisms leveled by opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, is believed to be a revealer of a deeper issue plaguing Nigeria’s governance: a dearth of effective strategies to tackle the country’s pressing challenges.
By dismissing criticism as mere incendiary remarks and urging opponents to provide solutions instead, the APC inadvertently reveals a government grappling with its limitations in addressing the nation’s economic woes and social unrest.
Morka’s call for constructive suggestions from the opposition rather than mere condemnation, during an interview with Channels TV, inadvertently exposes a vulnerability within the ruling party. By challenging the opposition to provide solutions, the APC is believed to have tacitly admitted to grappling with policy inadequacies and a dearth of innovative ideas to tackle the nation’s economic woes effectively.
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His statement, “assuming they have the silver bullets this government is not deploying,” is said to underline a recognition of the limitations within the government’s approach.
Moreover, Morka’s dismissal of Abubakar’s criticisms as politically motivated was also noted as a defensive stance that deflects accountability rather than engaging with substantive critiques. By attributing Abubakar’s remarks to “political self-interest,” the APC attempts to discredit valid concerns about the state of the economy under its watch, critics said.
The argument is that such dismissive rhetoric fails to address the root causes of economic distress, further eroding public confidence in the government’s ability to steer the country toward prosperity.
The underlying sentiment behind the APC’s response is believed to be a growing acknowledgment of public disillusionment with the government’s economic policies. The criticisms leveled by Abubakar and Obi resonate with a populace grappling with rising inflation, soaring food prices, and widespread economic hardship.
Abubakar pointed out that chaotic policies under the leadership of figures like Bola Tinubu have dashed hope and pushed the nation to the brink.
Salihu Mohammed Lukman, a former national vice chairman of the APC, acknowledged these concerns by warning of the consequences of ignoring mass protests over the high cost of living.
Earlier in the week, protests over soaring food prices rocked two northern states, Niger and Kano.
Lukman’s critique cuts to the heart of the matter, highlighting the disconnect between the ruling party’s rhetoric of progress and the stark realities faced by ordinary Nigerians. His assertion that “the renewed hope agenda of our party has been floated” was based on the failure of the APC to deliver on its promises of economic prosperity.
He said, “As it is now, the renewed hope agenda of our party has been floated. Like the Naira exchange rate, Renewed Hope is being exchanged for Renewed Anger. The value is becoming more and more provocative to citizens.”
Furthermore, Lukman’s rebuke of the APC’s attempt to blame opposition parties for the protests denotes a broader pattern of denial and deflection within the ruling party. He said the suggestion that opposition forces could mobilize citizens to protest in APC strongholds reflects a refusal to acknowledge genuine grievances and a tendency to scapegoat political opponents.
“If the truth must be told, there is hunger in the land! As a committed member of APC, it is very depressing that this is happening under the leadership of our party. Even more depressing was the statement issued by Mr. Felix Morka, our National Publicity Secretary alleging that opposition parties are behind the protests,” he said.
In essence, the APC’s response to criticism from Abubakar, Obi, and Lukman betrays a government grappling with a crisis of confidence and legitimacy. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue and introspection, the ruling party resorts to defensive posturing and blame-shifting.
Lukman said that this defensive stance not only fails to address the root causes of Nigeria’s economic challenges but also undermines the credibility of the government in the eyes of the public.
“For Mr. Morka to issue such a very dishonest statement points to only one thing that the leadership of our party has completely lost it and at this rate their political utility value is zero. This suggests that even the old pretense about being progressive has been thrown to the dogs.
“To suggest that any opposition party could mobilize citizens to protest against our government is already defeatist. The hard reality is that these protests are logical responses to the realities facing Nigerians.
“If these realities continue unattended to, these protests will spread like bush fire across every part of the country within a very short period. No one should be deceived, these are justifiable protests, which tests the responsiveness of our party, our leaders and above all our democracy. APC and President Asiwaju Tinubu may wish to ignore them at their own peril,” he stated.