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. Continue..
“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 Secretar
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