The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has acknowledged that the economic policies introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have led to increased hardship in Nigeria.
This admission came from the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, in a statement responding to criticism from Salihu Mohammed Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman (North West) of the party.
Lukman had accused the APC of failing to deliver on its promises to Nigerians, claiming that both former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Tinubu have not fulfilled their campaign pledges. He called on opposition leaders to unite in an effort to defeat the APC in the 2027 elections.
In response, Morka defended President Tinubu’s administration, stating that the current government is implementing bold measures to fix the country’s “long broken economy.” He admitted that these reforms have caused economic hardship but argued that they are necessary to address deep-rooted issues left unaddressed by previous administrations.
“The APC-led administration of President Tinubu is taking bold measures to reset our country’s long-broken economy, improve national security, and restore the country to sustainable development,” Morka’s statement read. “These inevitable reforms have undoubtedly increased economic hardship, but avoiding these changes, as past administrations have done, would only perpetuate the country’s economic decline.”
Morka further asserted that President Tinubu is committed to tackling generational economic challenges for the benefit of both current and future Nigerians, emphasizing that in time, the President will be vindicated for his vision and commitment to the nation’s well-being.
Regarding Lukman, Morka described his criticisms as attention-seeking and politically motivated. He characterized Lukman as a “displaced political gaslighter” who shifts his loyalties to serve his own interests, lacking the conviction to offer genuine advice to Nigerians on electoral matters.
Morka dismissed Lukman’s calls for opposition unity as a ploy to gain relevance and distract from the administration’s progress, accusing him of furthering a personal agenda rather than contributing constructively to national discourse.