By Becky Usman

The Labour Party (LP) has expressed strong disapproval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s New Year speech, describing it as a display of “despicable deceit.” The party asserted that the address highlighted the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) alleged hypocrisy, deceit, and lack of empathy.

LP found it distressing that Tinubu’s speech did not offer condolences or comfort to the families affected by the Christmas Eve massacre in Plateau State, where over 200 people lost their lives to terrorist attacks. Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, issued a statement criticizing the president’s apparent helplessness in addressing pressing issues such as insecurity, crumbling infrastructure, economic challenges, and the depreciating naira-to-dollar exchange rate.

The LP statement questioned the absence of any mention regarding the alleged embezzlement of the nation’s resources by APC appointees and leaders in various sectors. The party also challenged Tinubu’s assertion that every decision and action taken during his term has been in the best interest of the country, labeling it as a “despicable form of deceit.”

Specifically, LP criticized Tinubu’s decision to remove the fuel subsidy without a corresponding plan to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians. The party raised concerns about the utilization of the nation’s foreign reserves for purposes like attending the climate change summit in Dubai, questioning the benefits to the Nigerian populace.

The LP called for a thorough examination of the damage inflicted on democratic institutions, including the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), by the APC administration. While urging prayers for the nation, LP appealed to the National Assembly to prioritize upholding the spirit and letter of the Constitution beyond party lines.