ADC Coalition Blasts Tinubu For Running ‘Most Divisive Government’, Repackaging Buhari’s Projects As Fresh Achievements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of running the “most divisive government in Nigerian history” while attempting to whitewash allegations of nepotism through what it described as manipulated infrastructure data.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the Nigerian government’s recently released infrastructure progress report as a “panicked propaganda attempt” aimed at damage control rather than transparency.

The report, titled Infrastructure Equity for Every Region. Progress for Every Nigerian. The Renewed Hope Agenda in Action, was released last week by the Tinubu administration in response to mounting criticism over claims of nepotism and regional favoritism.

However, the ADC argued that the report not only failed to allay public concerns but also exposed what it called “cronyism, sloppiness, and inequitable distribution of projects” under the current administration.

Citing examples, the party noted that several projects were wrongly attributed to the North-West region, including the Damaturu–Maiduguri road and Bama–Dikwa roads, both located in the North-East, as well as the Lokoja–Okene dualisation and Benue–9th Mile road projects, which are in the North-Central zone.

Abdullahi said it is unfortunate that, in its desperate attempt to defend its record, the government ended up indicting itself with obviously manipulated evidence.

He explained that this is the first time in Nigeria’s history that any government has been so hard-pressed to prove inclusiveness because it is the most exclusionary administration the country has ever witnessed.

The ADC further alleged that some projects listed by the Tinubu administration were initiated under former President Muhammadu Buhari but had been repackaged as new achievements.

The statement read, “The Tinubu government’s infrastructure report not only reinforced existing suspicions about exclusionary governance but also exposed the administration’s alarming comfort with misleading the public through #FakeNews.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has observed with keen interest the Federal Government’s recent flurry of media engagements, particularly the hurried release of a glossy infrastructure document tagged “Infrastructure Equity for Every Region. Progress for Every Nigerian. The Renewed Hope Agenda in Action.”

‘Ordinarily, we would have commended such an effort at transparency. However, the context and content of the report suggest that this was less a gesture of accountability and more a panicked propaganda attempt at damage control in the face of mounting criticism about the government’s nepotistic and exclusionary tendencies.

“It should be noted that this is the first time any government in Nigeria would be so hard-pressed to prove that it has actually given all parts of the country a sense of belonging. But the reason is clear: this is the most divisive government we have ever had, where government business is run like an exclusive membership club.

“Unfortunately for the administration, in a desperate attempt to defend its records, it ended up convicting itself with obviously manipulated evidence,” Abdullahi said.

According to the party, “For avoidance of doubt, the so-called infrastructure progress report, rather than exonerate the government, actually showcases the cronyism, sloppiness, and lack of equitable distribution of projects and spending that this APC government has become widely renowned for.

“Under the section purportedly dedicated to North-Western Nigeria, the government lists 12 projects, but upon closer scrutiny, at least four of those projects do not belong there.

“Take the Damaturu–Maiduguri road, for instance. This 110km road was listed under the North-West. Yet, Damaturu is the capital of Yobe State, and Maiduguri is the capital of Borno State — both in the North-East. Similarly, the Bama and Dikwa roads, also in Borno State, were mysteriously reclassified as North-Western projects.

“Then there is the Lokoja–Okene dualisation project. Lokoja is the capital of Kogi State, which, along with Okene, falls squarely within the North-Central zone. Yet, the government’s report would have us believe it is a North-Western initiative.

“The Benue–9th Mile road is another case in point. This was mislabeled under the North-West, despite Benue being in the North-Central.”

He added, “To make matters worse, some projects were listed twice — once under their actual regions and again under the North-West. We know that budgets have allegedly been padded by this administration, but this is the first time we have seen infographics padded with such brazen creativity.

“What is even more telling is that several of the projects the Tinubu government is celebrating were initiated under the Buhari administration, only to be repackaged and presented as fresh achievements.”  (SaharaReporters)