News
High cost of living: 'It will yield no result' – YPP’s Agada faults Tinubu
The presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, Architect Peter Agada, has criticised the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration’s 90-day action plan to ease the cost of living, describing it as a campaign strategy that does not reflect Nigeria’s economic realities.
Agada told reporters in Abuja that the government had introduced several economic interventions without achieving the desired results.
The criticism followed the announcement by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, that the National Economic Council, NEC, had approved a 90-day plan to address the rising cost of living.
Agada argued that the government should consider a Labour-direct ward-to-ward development strategy, which he said could reach Nigerians within 60 days.
“Labour-direct the ward-to-ward strategy remains an option that can capture all Nigerians within 60 days of implementation. We said 60 days; about 20 days are gone before the elections,” he said.
He urged the government to engage individuals with practical solutions to improve the economy, particularly at the grassroots level.
According to him, the government should incorporate the Labour Direct Information Network into its proposed monitoring dashboard to track projects, employment, production, feedstock, outputs, taxes and revenue through a single application.
Agada also questioned the effectiveness of previous government measures, including subsidy interventions, fuel price reduction proposals and the removal of illegal levies.
“I think that I align with those who opined that the economic team of Mr. President has failed to address Nigeria’s numerous economic challenges,” he said.
He added that the government’s repeated announcements had raised doubts about the effectiveness of its economic management.
“All his intervention plans, including the reduction of pump price, which did not go in line with NNPC and CNG, and he also talked about the removal of illegal levies, and nothing was done,” Agada said.
The YPP candidate questioned the timing of the 90-day plan, arguing that its implementation period extended beyond the forthcoming election.
“These promises back and forth are for Nigerians to believe and vote them back into office,” he said.
“If you believe in the rules of the game they are playing, there are just 85 days to the election, and you are saying a 90-day timeline to cushion the cost of living. So after the election, what happens?”
Agada further alleged that previous interventions announced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration had failed to deliver the expected relief to Nigerians.
He cited proposed funding for manufacturing, micro, small and medium enterprises, conditional grants, grain and fertiliser distribution, agricultural production and rice farmers as examples of earlier measures.
He also questioned the decision to remove tariffs on food imports, arguing that the policy had failed to bring food inflation under control.
The YPP candidate noted that other announced measures included funding for compressed natural gas, CNG, infrastructure development and an increase in the minimum wage.
Agada urged Nigerians to scrutinise the government’s latest economic proposals and demand accountability for previous commitments.
He said the proposed monitoring dashboard should include monthly employment figures to establish whether government interventions were creating jobs.
“Let us look at these things critically: if he says he is looking at a raft of measures now to be able to change what he has cost in the past three years, how feasible is it going to be? And that is why we are saying that Nigerians need to be circumspect; we need to hold government to account,” he said.
He maintained that without measurable results, the 90-day action plan could amount to a political strategy ahead of the 2027 general election.
High cost of living: ‘It will yield no result’ – YPP’s Agada faults Tinubu
The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, APC-PCC, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, has criticised those accusing the ruling party of failing to address insecurity, saying they did nothing to tackle the problem for over 20 years.
Yari made the remarks on Saturday during the APC presidential rally in Jos, Plateau State, while defending the administration of President Bola Tinubu against criticisms over its handling of insecurity.
"Those who are saying we don't have a plan for security, I want to remind them that they did nothing about insecurity for over 20 years because it started during their time," Yari said
The former governor of Zamfara State assured Nigerians that the APC would implement its manifesto, adding that the party expected to achieve almost all its promises by 2031.
Yari also expressed confidence in the APC's chances in Plateau State ahead of the 2027 general election.
He said political leaders and influential figures in the state had assured President Tinubu of their support.
Yari further praised Tinubu's leadership, particularly over the increase in revenue accruing to the Federation Account.
He recalled that the President inherited a federation account balance of N732 billion in June 2023, but said the figure had since risen to trillions of naira.
Those criticising APC on insecurity did nothing for 20 years – Yari
The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland has declared that it would not endorse any politician or political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chairman, Board of Trustees of the League, Sheikh Muhammad Habibullah Adam Abdullahi El-Ilory, made this declaration at the opening of a three-day conference organised by the League for Imams, Alfas, political office holders and traditional rulers.
The event, which took place in Ibadan on Saturday, was attended by Governor Seyi Makinde, President of the League, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulganiy Abubakar, Alfa Agba of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulbari Adetunji, Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, Secretary General of the League, Sheikh Mustapha Oseni Adewale Hamzat and Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrim Welfare Board (Muslim Wing) Sheikh Hashim Atere and Professor Kamil Olosho.
Others are Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Daud Akinola, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Afolabi Olaoye, Onigbeti of Igbeti, Oba Bashir Abioye, Professor Amidu Sanni, Professor Adam Surajudeen and Iyalode Adini of Yorubaland, Alhaja Sedeekat Aderibigbe, alongside other notable Islamic clerics, scholars and Muslims from Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Lagos and Ondo states.
Abdullahi El-Ilory while speaking on behalf of the League, explained that the group cannot declare support or announce any politician or political party as its choice for the forthcoming general elections.
He explained that the only thing the League can do and is still doing is to pray to God to give Nigerians credible leaders that will make life more meaningful for the citizens.
Abdullahi El-Ilory said, "We are religious leaders, we are not politicians, but we are the fathers of politicians. We will not declare support for any political party or politicians.
"We the league of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland cannot declare support or announce our support for any politician or political party. We can only pray to God for Him to give us credible leaders."
Makinde, while addressing the gathering, urged Nigerians to see themselves as one.
He advised Muslim clerics not to allow people to use religion to cause confusion in the forthcoming general elections.
Kewulere, in his contribution, noted that the focus of clerics should be to guide the people and preach the religion of Islam.
He said, "We are not politicians. An Imam is not supposed to be involved in politics. Our focus should be to guide people and preach the religion of Islam in line with the Islamic principles."
Ishola, on his part, explained that the programme was organised in order to ensure unity and cooperation among Muslims in Yorubaland before, during and after the general elections.
2027: We won’t endorse any politician, political party – Yoruba Imams, Alfas
-
News2 days agoUNIJOS Appoints Patricia Lar as First Female Vice-Chancellor
-
News3 days ago
NiYA: Nigeria Awards ₦49m grants to 17 young entrepreneurs – Technology Times
-
News2 days ago
Democrats launch Nvidia investigation, write scathing letter on Huang’s ‘scheme’ with Trump
-
Health3 days ago
Seven organisations pledge $65m to reduce maternal, newborn deaths in Nigeria
