Why APC government appears unpopular with Nigerians ―Oyegun

NATIONAL Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Odigie Oyegun has identified the poor state of the economy inherited from the last administration as responsible for hasty judgment trailing the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Addressing participant at a two-day workshop organized by the national leadership of the party in conjunction with International Republican Institute, (IRI) for APC publicity secretaries across the federation, Chief Oyegun said that it would be uncharitable to assume that the rot created by the erstwhile ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, could be corrected in two years.

The APC chairman accused past administration of lack of foresight to diversify the nation’s economy and further noted that dwindling earnings from crude oil earnings was responsible for the agonizing recession being experienced by Nigerians. He declared that stringent unpopular measures have to be initiated by the present administration, “to ensure that every kobo earned is spent effectively.”

“We have to borrow but the important thing about it is that it is going into sensitive infrastructural projects that will be the bedrock of revitalization of the economy. We aren’t blaming anybody but we have to let people know that we are facing recession, because we lacked foresight to prepare for this. “When other nations were preparing for alternative sources of energy, we were still busy allocating crude oil blocks.

“The alternative of broadening our economy and revenue base is clear now. It has forced it on us that we don’t have to import items that we can produce.”

Oyegun challenged the party spokesperson to showcase the programmes of the Buhari administration and the 24 governors on the party platform ahead of 2019 general elections.

“As you are aware, our Party is the first in the history of Nigeria to unseat a ruling party. We achieved that feat because of what you did and because of the effectiveness of our communication system across the states. We were able to sell the Change agenda to Nigerians, a message of hope and true transformation built on efficient management of government resources.

“Now that we are no longer in the opposition but have formed the government at the federal level and in 24 states, there is more work to be done. We need to sell our programmes and vision to our people even with greater vigour. We need to convince them to support the policies and programmes of the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari. We need to properly articulate the achievements of our respective state governments and sell the programmes of our Party to the people. We do not have to wait till the next election cycle to do this. This is the time to prepare for the next election by constantly and effectively communicating the achievements and plans our state governments to the people.”

Earlier in his remarks, International Republican Institute, (IRI)Country Director, Mr Sentell Barnes appealed to the ruling party to deploy what he called strong party-based communications, as he noted that it would “provide vital avenues for public participation and connecting leaders and elected officials around common programs.

“This program is expected to explore the communication channels that the party can use to strengthen their links with citizens by developing communication policies that will promote dissemination of party-based information through effective coordination of internal and external of the party,” Barnes said.