PDP Task Buhari on Economy

PDP tasks Buhari on economy, key appointments

July 14, 2015

Written by Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari on the appointment of ministers and other critical cabinet appointments.

Describing the steps taken so far by the President as “cosmetic”, the party noted that certain indices, if not properly corrected, were capable of derailing the smooth running of the administration.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, urged Buhari to focus on the promises he made to Nigerians and on policy thrusts that will move the economy forward.
“As the leader of the most populous black nation in the world, we believe you should not allow your Presidency to be pushed into the gimmicks of playing to the gallery and attempting to use the dramatisation of promissory notes and pledges by foreign interests, false premature claims of victory against insurgency, dramatisation of salary cut and rejection of official cars, all to gain cheap popularity and create an impression that the government is on course when in the actual fact, the new administration has not been able to locate a bearing since its inauguration in May,” the statement said.
The party urged the President to extricate himself from these agents of propaganda who continue to believe that Nigerians would be swayed by these “cosmetic interventions” instead of real business of governance.
The PDP said, “While we appreciate the symbolic gesture by Mr. President in cutting his N14 million annual basic salary by 50 percent, it should be noted that Nigerians would not be wavered by the N7million annual donation and rejection of official cars, and forget their expectations for the implementation of his long list of campaign promises for which he was elected into office.
“The Presidency should know that these orchestration, no matter how populist it may seem, does not in any way address the burning issues of employment, worsening security situation, decline in the economy, avoidable inactivity in government businesses, and continued apparent slide of the naira which has dipped from under N200 to the dollar in May to an all time low of N238 under the APC administration, among others.”

According to the PDP, Nigerians cannot be overwhelmed by these gestures especially given that they are aware that the salary is a mere drop in the ocean of personal allowances and privileges that come to the President.
The country, the party added, cannot be deluded by impressions aimed to make government appear to be on course when it has only been a case of all motion, no movement, spiced with unnecessary excuses.
The statement continued, “Nigerians, going by feelers, have not been thrilled by such orchestrations as other leaders who at one time or the other adopted similar stance did not dither or become laidback, but hit the ground running with governance. What the citizens want is a government that is urgent in living up to its billings and campaign promises.
“Instead of allowing his government to be taken over by needless showmanship, Mr. President must realize that the people would not judge him by such measures but on the extent to which he addressed critical issues of governance for which he was voted into power.
“The issue is about the President facing the challenges of governance and assembling his team of experts and capable hands to manage the economy, which has been on the decline since he assumed office.
“It is also about allowing the different arms of government, especially the National Assembly to work smoothly and encourage conducive democratic environment where the rule of law, personal freedom and security of lives and property are guaranteed.”