Posted by By UCHE USIM on
The Action Congress (AC) has called on the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government to take urgent measures to alleviate the suffering across the land, which has been worsened by rising fuel and food costs and the breakdown of key infrastructural facilities.
The Action Congress (AC) has called on the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government to take urgent measures to alleviate the suffering across the land, which has been worsened by rising fuel and food costs and the breakdown of key infrastructural facilities.
"In case this Federal Government does not know or pretends not to know, there is untold suffering across this nation as many are increasingly finding it difficult to meet basic needs," the AC said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
It said the recent surge in the price of diesel and the scarcity of kerosene have compounded the precarious existence of the country's citizens, who have had to generate their own power, provide their own water, pay heavily to send their children to private schools after the collapse of public schools and are not entitled to any health benefits from the government, just to mention a few.
'Today, Nigeria has become a ‘jerry can society,' where every family log around at least four jerry cans: one each for diesel and petrol for power generation, one for kerosene for cooking in the face of hugely expensive cooking gas and one for water.
'The government talks glibly of a N50 per litre kerosene, when the product is in short supply. The price of diesel has more than doubled its official cost, yet the government has no clue.
'Every community also provides its own security, hiring private security guards to give a semblance of security in the face of rampaging robbers who seemed to have conquered the under-equipped and largely demoralised police men and women.
'Teachers are on strike, and have yet to be taken seriously. Tanker drivers have only suspended their strike, which has further worsened the plight of our compatriots. Yet, this government continues to talk of an imaginary ‘seven-point agenda,' and of making Nigeria one of the top 20 economies in the world by the year 2020. It is high time the FG is told that it must start first with the basics.
'The dream of leapfrogging the country to one of the top 20 economies in the world must start with the provision for the citizenry of potable water, basic health facilities, good and affordable education, motorable roads, steady power and security, among others," AC said.
The party said unfortunately, the all-conquering PDP and its governments at the centre and the states just do not have any clue about how to restore hope to Nigerians, whom the rampaging party has vanquished.
"Having attained unprecedented political power, the self-styled largest party in Africa - on the world - has suddenly realised it is easier to rig elections than provide good governance" AC said.