- Tinubu’s Administration Running Economic Experiments on Nigerians
- Party Leadership Crisis and Betrayals Deepen PDP’s Troubles
The PDP Crisis: ‘Comatose but Not Dead’
Kola Ologbondiyan, former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in an interview with Vanguard described his party as being in a state of coma, not death. He dismissed suggestions of a requiem for the once-dominant political force, asserting that what the PDP needs is urgent recalibration to regain its footing as a leading opposition party.
“The PDP has waxed cold and been rendered ineffective in holding this trial-and-error administration accountable,” Ologbondiyan stated, pointing fingers at the current leadership for failing to respect the party’s constitution and for engaging in internal power struggles that have led to widespread disillusionment among members.
Leadership Woes and Betrayal from Within
Ologbondiyan criticized the party’s deviation from its foundational principles of fairness and equity, which he claimed laid the groundwork for its fall from power in 2015. He cited constitutional breaches, such as the failure to properly fill the vacancy left by the resignation of the former National Chairman, Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu, as evidence of the internal rot plaguing the PDP.
He also lamented the active participation of prominent party members, such as former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, in the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration. “You can’t be in a government run by another party and still claim loyalty to your original party,” he said, describing such contradictions as damaging to the PDP’s revival.
Economic Policy Blunders and Fake Lives Accusations
Turning his attention to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Ologbondiyan spared no words in criticizing its economic policies, particularly the abrupt removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira.
“These policies were implemented without shock absorbers, leaving Nigerians as guinea pigs for endless economic experiments,” he charged, adding that the administration’s failure to mitigate the fallout has plunged Nigerians into unprecedented hardship.
He also dismissed Tinubu’s claim that Nigerians were living “fake lives” before his administration. “Is it the Nigerians who can’t afford fuel or food for their families, or the government that splurges on private jets and yachts while asking citizens to embrace austerity, that are living fake lives?”
Hope for the Future Amid Political Turmoil
Despite the challenges, Ologbondiyan expressed optimism that Nigerians are not resigned to APC rule. He pointed to the nation’s history of electoral shifts as evidence that citizens will act decisively if leaders fail to deliver.
However, he criticized the PDP for failing to seize this critical moment to lead the opposition effectively. “The pain is that the PDP is failing to rise to the occasion at this crucial point in history,” he said, urging the party to rebuild and reclaim its place as a voice for the people
Ologbondiyan’s revelations underscore the deep-rooted issues within the PDP and offer a scathing critique of Tinubu’s governance. With Nigerians grappling with economic and political uncertainty, the future of both the PDP and the nation’s leadership remains a critical question. Whether the PDP can revive itself or cede its opposition mantle to another party remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher.
