Politics
PDP, Nigerians Knock Buhari Over Bizarre Independence Day Speech
Reactions have trailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s 60th Independence Anniversary Day bizarre speech.
In the speech Buhari said his predecessors in office have no moral right to criticize his administration having supervised the ‘near destruction of the country’.
“No government in the past did what we are doing with such scarce resources. We have managed to keep things going in spite of the disproportionate spending on security. Those in the previous Governments from 1999 – 2015 who presided over the near destruction of the country have now the impudence to attempt to criticize our efforts” Mr. Buhari said.
The President in justifying the recent hike in fuel price stunned Nigerians when he made a comparison with other countries.
He said, “Petroleum prices in Nigeria are to be adjusted. We sell now at N161 per litre. A comparison with our neighbours will illustrate the point;
“a. Chad which is an oil producing country charges N362 per litre
“b. Niger, also an oil producing country sells 1 litre at N346.
“c. In Ghana, another oil producing country, petroleum pump price is N326 per litre.
“Further afield, Egypt charges N211 per litre. Saudi Arabia charges N168 per litre. It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.”
Main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Olongbondiyan described Buhari’s speech as a slap on the sensibilities of Nigerians.
“The PDP says President Buhari’s attempt to justify the increase of fuel price in Nigeria by comparing it to the N168 per liter cost in Saudi Arabia is a morbid joke, noting that the minimum wage in Saudi Arabia is N305,113 (3000 Saudi Riyals), ten times higher than our paltry N30,000 which is largely unimplemented in Nigeria.
“Is Mr. President not aware that, on the average, a person working in Saudi Arabia earns around 4,230SAR (N430, 267) to 16,700 SAR (N1,698,693) per month?
“Our party charges Mr. President to always check his books before making such offensive comparisons including the price in Egypt where monthly average earning is around N222, 841 (9,200 EGP) against our N30,000.
“In comparing our costs with other countries such as Ghana, Chad and Niger where purchasing powers of citizens are much more higher, did Mr. President reflect on the cost of house rent, education, healthcare and average dependence on fuel for daily survival by ordinary citizens as obtainable in Nigeria?
“If the flawed assertions as evident in Mr. President’s speech are a direct reflection of how policies are formulated in his administration, then one needs not wonder why our economy is in doldrums.
Indeed, it is imperative to state that if the Buhari administration had summoned the competence and honesty to continue the programs already laid by previous administrations under our party to revive our refineries and provide infrastructural backbone for our productive sector, fuel price will not be more than N100 per liter, in addition to the gains from by-product from crude oil” the party said.
Some Nigerians also took to social media to knock Mr. Buhari for his speech. See some of the reactions.
https://twitter.com/ambrosia_ijebu/status/1311576779409285120?s=21
https://twitter.com/clarenceonyx/status/1311577547101155328?s=21
After reading Buhari’s speech, I learned 3 things.
— king In The North 👑 (@nawaf_danagege_) October 1, 2020
1. Nigeria and Nigerians have no future
2. Our president is the worst president a nation have ever had.
3. This is just the beginning of our suffering. #Nigeria60AndUseless #NaijaLikeNeverBefore pic.twitter.com/BHpPX9l8fh
https://twitter.com/ambrosia_ijebu/status/1311589293899612160?s=21
https://twitter.com/manmustwack/status/1311613338024108032?s=21
Whoever wrote Buhari's independence speech didn't mean well for him
— FOLA FOLAYAN (@TheFavoredWoman) October 1, 2020
And it's shocking that all his comms people read through it and NOBODY saw what a huge problem this is? https://t.co/uitjwbsN8G
I like that Buhari is honest. He doesn't care and he doesn't hide it.
— Ifechidere (@Ifechideere) October 1, 2020
He does not like us. He did not mince words in his independence day speech.
If you want to riot, try him and see if the new recruit of over 500 North in the DSS is for joke.
That Buhari's speech is one of the most disgraceful and distasteful speeches you could expect at this time.
— Ore A-P (@OrePopoola) October 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/callmejoe/status/1311603363117764608?s=21
Whoever wrote Buhari's speech today deserves to be flogged!
— ♧ (@MrMakanakey) October 1, 2020
Buhari speech full of lies, denial, disjointed, unware, unintelligent and uninspiring, Man and his clowns are not hot at all. The arrogance to make such speech to your citizens at this time unimaginable. He actually blames them for everything, from Election to Economy.
— Onyeamama 2 of Igboland. (@DaveTorty) October 1, 2020
There’s nothing to hold on to in Buhari speech this morning….Nothing new, SMH #Nigeria60AndUseless
— Dear Micheal 🇬🇧 (@MKanyes) October 1, 2020
Buhari speech writers, media aides advisers and co are all fools how can you really come up with how Egypt and Saudi charges for petrol per litter for God sake? That's really embarrassing.
— Sadeeq Tuge (@Tugeh) October 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/amudipe_v/status/1311602849877561344?s=21
I've been saying this thing since 2015. Whoever writes Buhari's speech(es) and handles his PR should be flogged in public. I'm sure the same people prep Lai Mohammed before he speaks to the press. Disastrous! 🤦♂️🤦♂️
— Oladapo Temitayo (@TayoTaiO) October 1, 2020
Buhari is a dangerous demagogue!
— Portharcourt 2nd Son (@Polymat43955419) October 1, 2020
After the similitude of idi amin, Bokassa,Hissene Habre…..
This man has set this nation on fire & he is blaming the victims of his arson for the damage…..
Read that his speech & understand the depth of his vile agenda