The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola has drawn critical reactions from many Nigerians on social media over his comment that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would soundly defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clinch the 2023 general election.
Fashola spoke Friday during an appearance on Channels Television.
Describing the PDP as “uninspiring opposition”, Fashola stated, “First of all, there is nothing patented about the use of the word ‘progressive’. Let me dispel that quickly. Progressivism for me is being concerned about improving the human condition.
“All of the investments we have made, whether for business or employment, aim at only one thing — improving the human condition. .
“Let me just remind you that our opponent had 16 years. We beat them at the peak of power when they had almost 30 governors. We beat them again in 2019, and we will do it again, because I don’t remember them providing one alternative to the options we have given or alternative to the measures that we have proposed.
“So, they have really been an uninspiring opposition and when the time comes, we will show to the Nigerian people that we are still worthy of their trust and worthy of their services, because we can solve these problems. The umbrella is not an alternative to any of the problems Nigeria has.”
He said re-electing APC in 2023 should be the logical conclusion given its record of performance since 2015.
“Of course, there are many projects that will not be finished in the tenure of this administration, the Buhari-led administration. That would for me be a reason for members of the electorate to make an informed choice. Who do you want to continue with it? Those who did not start or those who started it and time did not permit them to finish it?
“That will be a reason for conversation in the future as the electorate make their choice. The other party had 16 years to fiddle with this (referring to Second Niger bridge). What they had really done is just fiddling — a lot of talk without motion or movement.
“Now, we have momentum and I’m sure that trusted with this mandate again, we will do more and complete many of the projects that the precious time and resources may not have permitted us to complete,” Fashola.
However, many Nigerians on Twitter faulted the minister’s assertion that the APC outperformed the PDP and should therefore retain power in 2023.
Ikenna Ochei said, “I dare Minister Fashola to organise a road trip across federal roads with journalists and other stakeholders whose assessment will be very objective. Other than the PIDF projects that are not more than five in all, all other road projects are still up in air even after 8yrs.”
F.O Adeyemi wrote, “Can somebody help tell this people even if they up their yahoo yahoo game to yahoo plus plus they have no where to go next year? They only have what it takes to make things worse.”
Chi Amaka wrote, “Oh God, don’t allow the plans of these people to prosper in 2023. Use the masses to give the nation a better government in Jesus name.”
Adetola Ajala wrote, “While we wait for 2023, can @tundefashola give us evidence (data, infographics etc) of Nigeria’s problems solved between 2015 and 2019? 2020-2021 is excluded because of the global Covid 19 pandemic. That is understandable.”
@GabbyDon8 wrote, “A vote against APC is a vote for freedom, prosperity and a complete restoration of human dignity…
“A vote against APC is a vote for freedom, prosperity and a complete restoration of human dignity.”