Politics

Atiku’s Economic Blueprint, A Poor Photocopy – Lai Mohammed

Published

1 year ago

September 22, 2022

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the economic blueprint recently unveiled by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is a “crude attempt at copying all that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has done”.

Abubakar is the candidate of the opposition party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 presidential election.

Mohammed told newsmen in Abuja on Thursday that Abubakar’s blueprint is a poor version of the present government’s economic strides.

He said the blueprint unveiled by Abubakar in Lagos the previous week did not offer anything new in job creation, infrastructure financing and relationship with the private sector.

According to the minister, other areas poorly copied by Abubakar in the blueprint were the rejuvenation of the power sector, poverty reduction, debt management and the overall management of the economy.

“It is shocking that an opposition that has condemned all that this administration has done will turn around to weave its so-called economic blueprint around the same things that are currently being done.

“This news conference is aimed at exposing the hypocrisy in an opposition that condemns an administration while showcasing a blueprint that is nothing, but a poor version of what’s on ground,’’ he said.

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Buttressing his point, Mohammed said the position of Atiku in the blueprint that “reducing infrastructure deficit will enhance economy, unleash growth and wealth creation’’, is not novel.

“No one understands this better than this sitting administration.

“Even our worst critics will agree that our record on infrastructure development is next to none in the history of this country.

“Across the country, we have constructed 8,352.94 kilometres of roads, rehabilitated 7,936.05 kilometres of roads, constructed 299 bridges, maintained 312 bridges and created 302,039 jobs in the process.

“We have also delivered houses in 34 states of the federation under the first phase of the National Housing Project.

“We were able to achieve these through a combination of budget increase and innovative infrastructure financing methods,’’ the minister stressed.

Mohammed recalled that before the President Buhari’s administration came to power, budget for roads component of the Federal Ministry of Works was a meagre N18.132 billion.

He added that when Buhari got into office in 2015, the budget for the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing increased exponentially to N260.082 billion in 2016.

“The budget also increased to N274.252 billion in 2017; to N356.773 billion in 2018; to N223.255 billion in 2019; to N227.963 billion in 2020 and to N241.864 billion in 2021, he added.

“Therefore, for anyone using this as a campaign stunt without acknowledging what we have done so far is cheap and disingenuous.

“Let me say that I am not really very surprised that His Excellency the former vice-president only reeled out, in his so-called economic blueprint, what we have been doing in the past seven years plus.

“That’s what you get from someone who leaves the country after losing an election, only to parachute into town when another election is due,’’ Mohammed stressed. (NAN)/Daily Trust

Related Topics:Atiku blueprint economic Lai Mohammed

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I won’t challenge my loss in court – Dino Melaye

Published

4 mins ago

November 29, 2023

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I won’t challenge my loss in court – Dino Melaye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the just concluded Kogi State governorship election, Senator Dino Melaye, says he will not to seek legal redress over the outcome of the election.

The election held on November 11, 2023 was won by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo. Ododo won with 446,237 votes, defeating his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 46,362 votes.

Melaye said his decision not to challenge the results was based on the fact that the judiciary had allegedly become an arm of the ruling APC.

He said this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said it was now public knowledge that the judiciary under the current administration had become the “lost hope” instead of the “last hope” of the common man.

Melaye noted that it was a shame that the judiciary watched helplessly as members of the ruling party boasted of their control over the judiciary during campaigns.

Politics

Updated: Edo gov poll: I’m unstoppable, says Philip Shaibu

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2023

Trends Admin

Updated: Edo gov poll: I’m unstoppable, says Philip Shaibu

Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Monday said he remained resolute and unstoppable in his interest to contest the 2024 governorship poll in the state.

He said he would be contesting the election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He made his declaration at the Biohop Kelly Centre, Benin City.

The deputy governor was billed to declare his governorship bid at the Eterno Hotel but the hotel cancelled the event at the last minute, saying Governor Obaseki had a programme for the venue at same time.

Obaseki and Shaibu have been on war path over the latter’s governorship bid.

Shaibu said as home boy of the Edo who had felt the pains of the people, he was prepared to develop the state.

Shaibu called on the people to support him in actualizing his ambition of becoming the next governor of the state.

Politics

BREAKING: Obaseki’s deputy, Philip Shaibu, declares interest in Edo gov seat

Published

2 days ago

November 27, 2023

Trends Admin

Philip Shaibu

BREAKING: Obaseki’s deputy, Philip Shaibu, declares interest in Edo gov seat

Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has formally declared his intention to run for Governor of Edo State in the 2024 election, succeeding his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The declaration follows weeks of speculation regarding his intentions.

In a pre-recorded speech aired today, he said, “This is why today, I stand before you with great conviction and resolve, as I declare my intention to run for the office of the Governor of Edo State under the platform of the

“Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the upcoming 2024 election and I am confident that with your support, we can take Edo State to even greater heights.