Former minister, Nduese Essien, says Tinibu has nothing to offer

A leader of the People's Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom state and former Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Nduese Essien, said All Progressives Congress presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Bola Tinubu, had nothing new to offer after his party was unable to deliver on its promises to the country.

He said Tinubu's promise that his government would equate the naira to the US dollar was a mere campaign ploy that couldn't fly, adding that the APC flag-bearer had no such magic wand to make the naira equal with the dollar in value.

Essien said: “Tinubu made such a promise in 2015 when he was fighting for Muhammadu Buhari and seven years later he failed to show the President how to make the naira appreciate.

“Then why should anyone who knows how the world economy works believe him?

"That's how it started in 2014 and led to opposition to President Goodluck Jonathan over how the naira will catch up with the US dollar when Buhari comes to power," Chief Essien said, adding that Tinubu's claim is unrealistic given the fact that he is likely to follow Buhari's economic path if elected to power.

The member of the House of Representatives, who chaired the South-South faction of the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003, castigated the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, in which Tinubu rides, for the abysmal devaluation of the naira, from where they met it 150 for 150 years today's value of 610 to a dollar.

“Why did Tinubu fail to help President Buhari halt the steady decline of the naira against other international currencies, but wait until he becomes president in 2023 before miraculously intervening?” asked Essien.

He added: “International currencies are not being manipulated in the way that Bola Tinubu has secretly relocated Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited HQ from its operational area to the detriment of the oil-producing areas to Lagos and is being maintained despite all the protests there to the rest of the country and in line with.” international best practices.

"Tinubu cannot be trusted because as leader of the All Progressive Congress, the party has betrayed the country in all its campaign promises, he has nothing new to offer the nation."

Chief Essien urged voting-age Nigerians to take advantage of the extension INEC has given in registering for PVC to be part of the executive recruitment process.

Source