As Muslims observe Eid-el Maulud tomorrow, the Peoples Democratic Party has urged the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to reassess all policies that negatively affect the people and focus more on citizens’ welfare.
The Federal Government had announced Monday as a public holiday to allow Muslims to celebrate Eid-el Maulud.
In a statement on Sunday, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, urged the Federal Government to address wasteful spending, tackle corruption, and focus resources on projects that directly benefit Nigerians.
The statement read in part “The Peoples Democratic Party celebrates with Nigerians, especially the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el Maulud, charging them to strengthen their resolve for a national rebirth to overcome the biting economic hardship and worsening insecurity fuelled by the anti-people policies of the All Progressives Congress administration.
“The Party urges Nigerians to use the occasion to reinforce their hope in the Almighty Allah for direction as well as care for one another especially at this critical time when millions of citizens have been subjected to misery, hopelessness and utter destitution as a result of bad governance by the APC.
“Eid-el Maulud, the celebration of the birth of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW), offers humanity and indeed our nation, especially leaders at all levels, the rare opportunity to retrace our steps and submit to the Will of the Almighty Allah in all our dealings as exemplified in the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet.”
The opposition party encouraged Nigerians to stay calm and hopeful and to use Eid-el Maulud as a time to show love to one another while earnestly praying for divine guidance in the nation’s affairs.
It continued “Lamenting that most Nigerians cannot afford to celebrate and enjoy with their loved ones on an occasion as significant as the Eid-el Maulud, the PDP counsels leaders whose decisions and policies inflict hardship and pain on citizens to use this occasion for deep introspection.
“For the umpteenth time, the PDP demands that the Federal Government immediately review all life-discounting and suffocating policies, particularly the increase in the pump price of petroleum products, hike in taxes, tariffs and other anti-people policies which have a consequential asphyxiating effect on the lives of Nigerians.
“Furthermore, the PDP charges the Federal Government to end profligacies, curb corruption, be more sensitive in prioritizing the need of the citizens by channelling resources to projects and programmes that have a direct bearing on the welfare of Nigerians.”