The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has described the N27.5trillion budget for 2024 fiscal year as proposed by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly as a huge disservice which, if allowed to pass will further asphyxiate Nigerians and plunge the nation into more economic depression and hopelessness.
In a statement by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary, the party also described the claim by President Tinubu that the budget is a budget of renewed hope as conjured, unfounded and deceptive, saying it is completely devoid of concrete mechanisms to revive the economy, create jobs, address the comatose manufacturing and productive sectors, human capital development deficiencies and depleting life expectancy of Nigeria citizens.
It said; ”The 2024 budget is filled with heavily padded figures, duplicated items and several false statistics including claims of global increase in inflation rate as excuse
Furthermore, the PDP condemned the rendition of the campaign tune of then Presidential candidate of the APC, now President Tinubu in the hallowed chamber of the National Assembly during the presentation of the 2024 budget estimate to the legislature.
It described such as extremely sacrilegious and unpardonable assault by President Tinubu and his handlers on the sensibility and constitutional sovereignty of the Nigerian people as represented by the National Assembly.
”The insensitive and brazen rendition of Tinubu’s campaign tune amidst proceedings in the chambers of the National Assembly by government’s security band further confirms the apprehensions by Nigerians of creeping totalitarianism and fiefdom where an individual is being elevated as a sovereign in clear undermining of the legislature and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended).
”This condemnable episode validates the concerns of the PDP as expressed on several occassions, the latest being on Wednesday15, 2023 where our party raised alarm and cautioned that our nation is dangerously sliding into cronyism and totalitarianism under the Tinubu-led APC administration.
”The National Assembly is the symbol of the collective sovereignty of the Nigerian people which cannot be appropriated by or surrendered to any individual or cabal under any guise or circumstance whatsoever.
”The PDP is appalled by President Tinubu’s description of Nigerians in his budget presentation as the ”ordinary people out there”, a statement which further exposes the disdain and utter disregard to the sensitivity of Nigerians as reflected in the formulation of policies, programmes and implementation by the APC administration.
”This apparently explains why the 2024 budget as presented by President Tinubu heavily provided for luxury appetite of the privileged few in the Presidency and APC leaders with no corresponding positive plan for the well being of other Nigerians.
”Our party calls on Nigerians to be at alert and defend the nation’s democracy by resisting the totalitarian tendencies of the APC administration.
”Nigeria is a democratic nation governed by the constitution and the rule of law and we must not allow any act that is capable of drifting our nation to unconstitutional tendencies as being exhibited by APC”, the party stated.
