The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh on Monday criticized the Vice President-elect for failing to be bold and honest enough to also inform the nation that bulk of the $63.7 billion debt was incurred by APC states.
"It is indeed unfortunate that the Vice President-elect who has the details of the debt stock chose to be economical with the truth and to mislead Nigerians just to discredit the current PDP-led administration and rationalize APC’s unpreparedness for governance.
“Prof.
Osinbajo is aware that the $63.7 billion is made up of external and domestic
debts belonging not only to the Federal Government but to federal and state
governments and accumulating since the 1960s, yet he deliberately
misrepresented the facts to give the unsuspecting public the impression that
the amount was exclusively incurred by the current Federal Government.
“Perhaps
the Vice President-elect avoided the details so as not to expose the fact that
the APC controlled Lagos state has both the highest external debt stock of
$1,169, billion as well as the highest domestic debt stock of N278, 867
billion.
“Furthermore
we find it unacceptable and unstatesmanly for the Vice President-elect to
attempt to mislead Nigerians into believing that the total federal debt
component was accumulated under the President Goodluck Jonathan-led
administration, when it is on record that a greater chunk of the amount was
inherited”, the statement said.
The party
said it was also on record that part of the contemporary borrowing from the
domestic bond market was occasioned by the global economic and financial crisis
as well as the downturn in crude oil revenue, which adversely affected other
economies of the world.
Berating
the in-coming administration for dwelling on excuses and reneging on campaign
promises, the PDP wondered if the APC and the President-elect, General
Muhammadu Buhari did not know about the economic challenges caused by the
dwindling oil revenues before making their bogus promises to Nigerians.
“The APC
must fulfill its promises for which Nigerians voted for them. Were they not
aware of the debt stock and the dwindling oil revenues before making their huge
promises to the people? Were the promises only intended as carrots to mislead
the people and deceitfully win their votes after which they are dumped?” the
PDP queried.
The party
said the in-coming administration should stop contriving excuses and understand
that Nigerians expect nothing short of the fulfillment of its campaign promises
in its four years rule, especially given that the solid foundation for wealth
creation has already been laid by the PDP, which also remained truthful and
honest in making promises to the people during the campaigns.
The PDP
said “come June ending, the APC must be ready to commence in a very transparent
manner, the payment of monthly N5,000 to 25 million poor Nigerians from across
the country, monthly allowances for discharged but yet to be employed youth
corps members as well as commence delivery of free meals to school children
among other promises”.
Signed:
Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
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