ABUJA, Nigeria — The Labour Party voiced grave concerns this Wednesday, June 28, 2023 regarding President Bola Tinubu’s lavish motorcade and ostentatious arrival after a trip abroad.
His convoy, which included over 127 vehicles as seen in a citizen video which has gone viral, was deemed an excessive display of wealth and power by the opposition, especially as the country grapples with economic hardships.
The Labour Party’s Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, held a press conference in Abuja to criticize what he called the “wasteful lifestyle” of the newly installed Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
The excessive convoy mirrored a military parade and was starkly at odds with the sacrifices asked of ordinary Nigerians, he observed.
“It was an irony that an administration whose legitimacy is still being challenged in court would ask Nigerians to ‘tighten their belts and make sacrifices’ while engaging in opulence,” Ifoh stated.
The Labour Party expressed alarm over the early signals from the APC, which they argue point to a continuation of the previous administration’s extravagant tendencies.
This comes when President Tinubu’s administration has yet to solidify its position due to ongoing court challenges regarding its legitimacy.
Ifoh was stern in his remarks about the implications of such opulence on the masses. “President Bola Tinubu just returned from his foreign business/private visit and was welcomed by a convoy of over 100 vehicles fueled by taxpayer’s money,” he said.
“This is an administration which has supervised increases in the pump price of petroleum products, electricity tariffs, and vehicle registration among others, but has refused to cut the cost of governance,” Ifoh added.
Ifoh also highlighted the adverse effects of the administration’s policies on ordinary Nigerians.
According to him, the rising transportation and energy costs have led to job losses and business closures.
“We are certain a long list of taxes will soon follow just to raise funds in order to maintain the lifestyles of those in power to the detriment of ordinary Nigerians,” he added, calling on Nigerians not to lose hope.
In the closing remarks of his press conference, Ifoh extended a message of solidarity to the Nigerian people. “We implore Nigerians not to despair as help is on the way. We remain hopeful that there is light at the end of the tunnel and justice will prevail,” he concluded.
The Tinubu administration has not yet responded to the Labour Party’s criticisms. As the nation awaits an official response, the convoys of controversy continue to symbolize a deeper national conversation regarding governance and the juxtaposition of wealth and power amidst economic struggle.
