*Says Tinubu regime has inflicted pains, hardship on Nigerians more than other govts
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress ADC, on Wednesday expressed sadness that
Nigeria, at 65 years,has continued to bleed across multiple fronts, despite
years of propaganda about restoring peace in the country by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The party said this at a press conference addressed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi in Abuja on the occasion of the nation’s 65th Independence Anniversary Celebration.
The ADC noted with regrets that while Boko Haram and ISWAP maintain
footholds in the North, banditry and kidnappings have continued to terrorize the Northwest, with parts of North central, which was once safe, continues to buckle under the wave of insecurity that has now made its way to the Federal Capital.
The coalition party categorically declared that since 1999, no administration has inflicted more hardship on ordinary Nigerians or done more to erode the foundations of national stability, than the present one, adding, “Still, amidst bleak backdrop, another quiet but devastating assault is being launched on our national oil assets — an assault that must be stopped”.
According to Abdullahi, “Since 1999, no administration has inflicted more hardship on ordinary Nigerians, or done more to erode the foundations of national stability, than the present one. Still, amidst bleak backdrop, another quiet but devastating assault
is being launched on our national oil assets — an assault that must be stopped.
According to the ADC, “At 65, our nation is staggering under the failures of President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC). We face an acute
convergence of crises: economic hardship, spiraling insecurity, and a growing loss of public faith in government.
The promise of “renewed hope” that Tinubu and his APC campaigned on has given way to widespread disillusionment, as the reforms undertaken by his administration have destabilized tens of millions
across the country by compounding inflation, crushing our individual
purchasing power, and triggering a wave of social pain that the government has
failed to cushion.
“Insecurity remains perhaps the most damning indictment of the APC’s
misgovernance.
“Despite years of propaganda about restoring peace, Nigeria
continues to bleed across multiple fronts.
“Boko Haram and ISWAP maintain
footholds in the North, banditry and kidnappings terrorize the Northwest, and parts of North central, which was once safe, continues to buckle under the
wave of insecurity that has now made its way all the way to our Federal
Capital.
“Yet, President Tinubu’s government has yet to articulate or demonstrate a comprehensive security strategy, leaving citizens to fend for
themselves amid a fractured, under-resourced, and often predatory security
apparatus.
“Worse still, institutional credibility is eroding fast. Many Nigerians view the
APC government as elitist, self-preserving, and deeply disconnected from everyday realities.
“The perceived arrogance and opacity of governance have fueled public anger, protest threats, and strikes across critical sectors-from health to labor to education. Infrastructure decay continues.
The power grid remains unreliable. The health system falters under pressure.All this amid record youth unemployment and growing urban discontent.
“At 65, Nigeria must not stand for power, profit, or politics. Nigeria must stand
for the people.
“The African Democratic Congress reaffirms its commitment to protecting
Nigeria’s commonwealth, resisting corruption in all its forms, and defending
the economic rights of future generations.
“Let this be our legacy — that when it mattered most, we stood up, spoke out,
and said no to the selling of Nigeria.
21. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, it said.
Continuing, the coalition party said,
“The Petroleum Industry Under Siege. On September 22, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers
(NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria (PENGASSAN) sent a joint letter to President Tinubu, unequivocally
rejecting the proposed amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and
the planned sale of NNPC Limited’s equity in high-performing joint ventures.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) fully aligns herself with the position of the unions on both the proposed amendments and the sell-offs.
“We also believe that if allowed to proceed, the planned actions of this administration would not only undermine Nigeria’s energy sovereignty, but it would also amount to a brazen transformation of public assets into private hands in a manner never
experienced in the history of our country.
“We have carefully examined the proposed amendments to the PIU, and we are convinced that this action forms part of a deliberate and calculated effort to hollow out NNPC Limited, dismantle institutional checks and balances, and
pave the way for the fire-sale of Nigeria’s most valuable national assets to
private, politically-connected interests at the expense of 200 million Nigerians.
They represent not reform, but regression – and they must be rejected
“There is also the grave issue of energy security. By handing over decisive
control of these assets to private interests, the government weakens Nigeria’s ability to stabilize energy supply, respond to global oil shocks, or plan long term energy strategies in the national interest.
“If we sell off our oil assets, we are not just parting with numbers on a balance
sheet – we are surrendering the lifeblood of our economy and the backbone of
our national sovereignty. It would mean that Nigeria, a country that once stood
as a giant of energy in Africa, would wake up tomorrow without control over
its own resources.
“It would mean that the revenues which fund our schools, hospitals, roads, and pensions will flow into private pockets while our treasury runs dry. It would mean NNPC Limited, stripped of its most profitable holdings, will stagger under debt and obligations it can no longer meet, risking collapse and the loss of thousands of jobs.
“It would mean that our energy
security — our ability to stabilize fuel supply, protect against global shocks,
and plan for the future – will be handed to a few private entities whose only
loyalty is to profit, not to the Nigerian people.
“Most dangerously of all, it
would set an irreversible precedent, turning our common wealth into private
property, and leaving future generations of Nigerians with nothing but
memories of what was once theirs.
“Fellow Nigerians, what lies before us is not merely a matter of policy or
legislative adjustment – it is a battle for the very soul of our nation’s
economy. At stake is the kind of Nigeria we are building, and more
importantly, for whom we are building it.
“We therefore call on all segments of our society to rise to this critical occasion. Civil society organizations must stand firm and resist this unfolding plunder of our national resources.
“The National Assembly, both current members and those who have served before, must reject any attempt to amend the Petroleum Industry Act in ways that serve private or political interests over the public good. Labor unions, particularly those in the vital oil and gas sector, must act decisively to protect our national sovereignty and strategic assets.
“And to the young people of Nigeria — those who will bear the long-term consequences of today’s decisions — we urge you to organize, speak out, and demand full transparency and accountability”, it said.
Continuing, the ADC noted sadly that
President Tinubu’s government has yet to articulate or demonstrate a comprehensive security strategy, leaving citizens to fend for themselves amidst a fractured, under-resourced, and often predatory security apparatus.
According to the party, “Worse still, institutional credibility is eroding fast. Many Nigerians view the
APC government as elitist, self-preserving, and deeply disconnected from everyday realities. The perceived arrogance and opacity of governance have fueled public anger, protest threats, and strikes across critical sectors-from
health to labor to education. Infrastructure decay continues.
The power grid remains unreliable. The health system falters under pressure.All this amid record youth unemployment and growing urban discontent.
“Our 65th independence anniversary should have been a moment of sober
national reflection and renewed purpose. Instead, it is overshadowed by a sense of fatigue-an overwhelming burden borne by citizens who see their sacrifices unrewarded, their leaders unaccountable, and their futures uncertain.
The ADC added, “At 65, our nation is staggering under the failures of President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC). We face an acute
convergence of crises: economic hardship, spiraling insecurity, and a growing loss of public faith in government.
“The promise of “renewed hope” that Tinubu and his APC campaigned on has given way to widespread disillusionment, as the reforms undertaken by his administration have destabilized tens of millions
across the country by compounding inflation, crushing our individual
purchasing power, and triggering a wave of social pain that the government has
failed to cushion.
“Insecurity remains perhaps the most damning indictment of the APC’s
misgovernance. Despite years of propaganda about restoring peace, Nigeria continues to bleed across multiple fronts. Boko Haram and ISWAP maintain footholds in the North, banditry and kidnappings terrorize the Northwest, and parts of North central, which was once safe, continues to buckle under the wave of insecurity that has now made its way all the way to our Federal Capital.
“Yet, President Tinubu’s government has yet to articulate or demonstrate a comprehensive security strategy, leaving citizens to fend for
themselves amid a fractured, under-resourced, and often predatory security
apparatus.
“Worse still, institutional credibility is eroding fast. Many Nigerians view the
APC government as elitist, self-preserving, and deeply disconnected from everyday realities. The perceived arrogance and opacity of governance have fueled public anger, protest threats, and strikes across critical sectors-from
health to labor to education. Infrastructure decay continues.
The power grid remains unreliable. The health system falters under pressure.All this amid record youth unemployment and growing urban discontent.
“Our 65th independence anniversary should have been a moment of sober
national reflection and renewed purpose. Instead, it is overshadowed by a sense of fatigue-an overwhelming burden borne by citizens who see their sacrifices unrewarded, their leaders unaccountable, and their futures uncertain.
Since 1999, no administration has inflicted more hardship on ordinary
Nigerians, or done more to erode the foundations of national stability, than the present one. Still, amidst bleak backdrop, another quiet but devastating assault
is being launched on our national oil assets — an assault that must be stopped.
10. That is why we have called this press conference today.
The Petroleum Industry Under Siege
11. On September 22, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers
(NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of
Nigeria (PENGASSAN) sent a joint letter to President Tinubu, unequivocally
rejecting the proposed amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and
the planned sale of NNPC Limited’s equity in high-performing joint ventures.
12. The Afican Democratic Congress (ADC) fully aligns herself with the position
of the unions on both the proposed amendments and the sell-offs.
We also
believe that if allowed to proceed, the planned actions of this administration
would not only undermine Nigeria’s energy sovereignty, but it would also
amount to a brazen transformation of public assets into private hands in a manner never
experienced in the history of our country.
13. We have carefully examined the proposed amendments to the PIU, and we are
convinced that this action forms part of a deliberate and calculated effort to
hollow out NPC Limited, dismantle institutional checks and balances, and
pave the way for the fire-sale of Nigeria’s most valuable national assets to
private, politically-connected interests at the expense of 200 million Nigerians
They represent not reform, but regression – and they must be rejected
14. There is also the grave issue of energy security. By handing over decisive
control of these assets to private interests, the government weakens Nigeria’s ability to stabilize energy supply, respond to global oil shocks, or plan long
term energy strategies in the national interest.
15. If we sell off our oil assets, we are not just parting with numbers on a balance
sheet – we are surrendering the lifeblood of our economy and the backbone of
our national sovereignty. It would mean that Nigeria, a country that once stood
as a giant of energy in Africa, would wake up tomorrow without control over
its own resources. It would mean that the revenues which fund our schools,
hospitals, roads, and pensions will flow into private pockets while our treasury
runs dry. It would mean NNPC Limited, stripped of its most profitable
holdings, will stagger under debt and obligations it can no longer meet, risking
collapse and the loss of thousands of jobs. It would mean that our energy
security — our ability to stabilize fuel supply, protect against global shocks,
and plan for the future – will be handed to a few private entities whose only
loyalty is to profit, not to the Nigerian people. Most dangerously of all, it
would set an irreversible precedent, turning our common wealth into private
property, and leaving future generations of Nigerians with nothing but
memories of what was once theirs.
16. Fellow Nigerians, what lies before us is not merely a matter of policy or
legislative adjustment – it is a battle for the very soul of our nation’s
economy. At stake is the kind of Nigeria we are building, and more
importantly, for whom we are building it.
17. We therefore call on all segments of our society to rise to this critical occasion.
Civil society organizations must stand firm and resist this unfolding plunder of
our national resources. The National Assembly, both current members and
those who have served before, must reject any attempt to amend the Petroleum”, it said.
The party posted that at 65, Nigeria must not stand for power, profit, or politics, “Nigeria must stand
for the people”.
The African Democratic Congress reaffirmed its commitment to protecting
Nigeria’s commonwealth, resisting corruption in all its forms, and defending
the economic rights of future generations.
“Let this be our legacy — that when it mattered most, we stood up, spoke out,
and said no to the selling of Nigeria.
21. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, it stressed.
END
