From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A former presidential aspirant under the Labour Party (LP) and the leader of the Rescue Movement for New Nigeria, Comrade Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, popularly called Fadojoe, has said that despite the present terrible state of Nigeria as the result of economic hardship, the country can still be rescued and a new Nigeria can be built again.
Joseph said this would be possible if the youth would be more proactive and determined in 2025 to take over their nation through the forthcoming general election in 2027.
This he said in his Christmas goodwill message to Nigerians and made available to newsmen on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
While wishing Nigerians a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance, the former presidential aspirant noted that “this Christmas is one of the hardest Christmas in the history of our country, as Nigerians have experienced too much hardship in this 2024.
“Thanks to Nigerians abroad (in diaspora) who have been cushioning the effects of the hardship, hunger and poverty by always standing by those in the country, always sending them money as the hardship ravaging Nigeria people has become more unbearable since the last one and half year that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) took over power.
“Unfortunately, those who are supposed to be the voice of opposition, care little as their only concern is waiting for 2026 to start campaign ahead of 2027 (next election) as usual.
“I challenge Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi to give formidable opposition and stand as real opposition to this government. I hardly hear them speaking for the suffering masses.
“Since after the 2023 election, it has been my humble self and my team, Rescue Movement for New Nigeria, that have been consistently speaking for the suffering masses as the lone voice of opposition. And this 2025, our voices will be louder, seriously louder, to continue speaking for the masses, and of course, if at any point the government gets it right, we will also talk about it.”.
“The hardship, poverty, and bad governance in Nigeria are not only affecting those in Nigeria; it’s affecting some of them in diaspora, because the burden of what is going on in our country is shared by those of them in diaspora who have to keep sending money home to support those afflicted.
“Immediately after Mr. Tinubu took over power in 2023, he announced the removal of subsidy and as a result of that, fuel pump price has risen to over N1,000 per litre in just less than a year later. They said the removal of subsidy means more money for the country. But rather than the more money, it has been more suffering.
“And they are borrowing more money for the country and still looking for where to borrow more money, despite that this country has borrowed more than what the next ten generations can pay back. So it has been more money for politicians to share and not more money to cater for Nigeria citizens.
“In the last one year, this government has gone round different parts of the world trying to woo investors to our nation. This is the end of a year, and it’s obvious no one has come to invest in Nigeria. Because no investor will put his/her money in a country where the economy is on free fall, where there is hardship and insecurity all over.
“That is why instead of being able to woo any investor, most companies are closing in Nigeria, leaving the shores of our country for neighbouring countries like Ghana, South Africa, etc. to set up again.
“Between last week and this week alone, many people died resulting from stampede from different parts of the country (South West, East, and North) as parents were scampering to get food from giveaways to give their hungry children. What a disaster in a country that was once a supplier of agricultural produce not only to other African countries but to the rest of the world. Our dear nation now turns to a country where the people can no longer eat and people are dying going to collect food somewhere.
“A bag of rice is now over a hundred thousand; even gari, which was supposed to be a common man’s food, is no longer affordable. That is how terrible the economy has become under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Yet some Nigerians still have the audacity to say this government is doing well.
“In the midst of this all, the insecurity is at an alarming rate, as nowhere is safe in Nigeria. Farmers cannot go to farm for fear of bandits, and for those farming around the community, some Fulani will use their cows to destroy their crops.” The statement said.
The LP former presidential aspirant further lamented that the supposed giant of Africa is groaning in economic nosedive, hardship, insecurity, and political instability.
“The power grid has been falling over and over again, and on some occasions remain fallen for weeks throwing the entire nation in continuous blackout for weeks.
“However, I want to call on Nigerians to keep hope alive: there is ray of light at the end of the tunnel. Nigeria will be rescued one day. And there will be a country called Nigeria, the giant of Africa, that we all can be proud of.
“But it will not be by the present crop of politicians; but by the youths, by people like us, who are ready to take the bull by the horn and go extra mile to rescue our dear nation.
“The battle and the journey to rescue our country has to be intensified from this coming 2025, because the politician that have gone back to their businesses and relaxation since after the 2023 general elections will start coming back in preparation to buy your conscience and attempt to bribe their way to power. Are we going to continue to sell our country for peanut every four years only to return to social media and continue crying in the usual circle?
“If we say no to the above! Then we have to rise up and prepare to take our country back through the 2027 general elections. So that the youths that are still agile and very sound, can take over leadership as we start the mission of rescuing our dear nation and rebuilding a new Nigeria. God bless you all”. The statement added.