The Conference of United Political Parties (CUPP) has criticized President Bola Tinubu, accusing his administration of increasing the hardships faced by Nigerians in 2024 through ineffective policies and unfulfilled promises.
Peter Ameh, the National Secretary of CUPP, delivered an assessment of the President’s New Year’s Day nationwide address, describing it as “empty rhetoric” disconnected from the reality of millions of struggling citizens.
“2024 was a very harsh year for most Nigerians due to the impulsive decisions taken by this government,” Ameh said.
He specifically challenged Tinubu’s claim of combating corruption, pointing to Nigeria’s dismal ranking of 143rd out of 149 countries on the corruption perception index as evidence to the contrary.
Ameh highlighted the devastating impact of the administration’s subsidy removal policy, noting that public transportation costs surged by 300%, worsening the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
He criticized Tinubu’s anecdote about a friend who downgraded from a Rolls Royce to a Honda, calling it tone-deaf to the struggles of those who have lost even their basic means of survival.
“With one pronouncement, the cost of living skyrocketed. Today, 129 million Nigerians—56% of the population—live below the poverty line,” he lamented.
The opposition leader also dismissed the President’s plans to float a new company to tackle inflation, calling it a needless duplication of existing agencies that would only increase bureaucratic inefficiencies.
“Food inflation stands at 80%, and instead of actionable steps, we get more talk. These policies are pushing more Nigerians into excruciating poverty,” Ameh said.
He further criticized Tinubu’s debt management, pointing out that the cost of debt servicing had ballooned from N87 trillion to over N130 trillion within a year.
The CUPP urged the administration to prioritize practical solutions over grandstanding, stressing the urgent need for policies that address the growing economic and social challenges plaguing the country.