APC says Obi’s New Year’s message to score cheap political points

The ruling All Progressives Congress on Thursday warned the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, not to incite Nigerians with his claim that President Bola Tinubu had failed to address the worsening economic and security challenges in his first 18 months as President.

Obi gave his position at a press conference on the state of the nation titled “’Nigeria Needs Selfless And Exemplary Leadership’ in Abuja.

The former governor of Anambra State had demanded what he called “vigorous, positive actions” by the administration, to bring succour to Nigerians, most of whom he said appeared to be losing hope.

A few hours after addressing journalists, he also paid a courtesy visit to a former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida, at his residence in Minna, Niger State.

The LP national leader shared photos from the visit on his official X handle.

He also explained that the visit was an opportunity to share thoughts on national issues with the elder statesman.

Reacting in a statement issued on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka accused Obi of hypocrisy, saying his New Year’s message is ‘misleading and appears intended to score cheap political points.’

Morka emphasised that the claim portrayed the former governor as a leading ‘doomsayer’ at a time when all indicators show the country is rebounding in significant measure across all sectors.

He said, “In reality, 18 months later, the economy, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has shown a steady record of progress. Despite these and other initial beneficial outcomes of ongoing reforms, the administration is doubling its effort to ensure their fullest benefits for the transformation of our country.

“It is a thing of irony that Obi, who now arrogates to himself to be omniscient and philosopher’s stone, when it comes to our nation’s challenges, left no record of significant achievement, let alone transformation of any kind, in his eight-year tenure as Governor of Anambra State.

“Like his co-travellers in the PDP, Obi’s obsessive pessimism and endless but futile effort to incite public outrage against the administration is borne out of the realization that Tinubu is unwittingly cementing their political irrelevance by his visionary and full-throttle reform.

“Under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Tinubu is dutifully turning our nation’s fortunes around. We urge Nigerians to remain confident of better days ahead.”