The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated President Muhammadu Buhari’s Monday night broadcast, saying he failed to address issues of corruption in the distribution of palliatives and post pandemic stimulus for businesses in the country.
The party called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately rally public efforts to provide post lockdown stimulus for the private sector.
The party also urged Buhari to eliminate alleged corruption in the distribution of palliatives in order for it to reach the vulnerable in the society.
The PDP, which stated this while reacting to the presidential broadcast of Buhari on the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun States as well as the federal capital territory due to the Coronavirus (COVID- 19) pandemic, said he did not offer any post lockdown stimulus to assist Nigerians in the private sector whose businesses had been crippled by the lockdown.
The party said the private sector was now faced with the burden of workers’ salaries and business refinancing.
A statement issued by Spokesman of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, said it was also worrisome that Buhari failed to address the corruption in the administration of palliatives as well as state the position of his government on the handling of donations and the spending template of other COVID-19 related funds.
“The PDP however urged Nigerians to note that the Buhari Presidency has reached its wits end on the management of COVID-19 pandemic and as such must remain vigilant in their self-protection efforts against the scourge,” the statement reads briefly.
“Nigerians should continue to strictly adhere to health safety measures of social distancing, personal hygiene and avoiding of large gatherings until the pandemic is over.”
While also demanding for the reorganisation of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, the statement added that the PDP had completely lost faith in the taskforce, which is “technically bogged down under the coordination of individuals that have not demonstrated required experience and proficiency to manage a serious pandemic like COVID-19.”
It said “The PDP demands an immediate reorganization of the PTF to eliminate political underlining and vest the responsibility on known experts to galvanize our public and private institutions for solutions.”