PDP Accuses Buhari of Lacking Initiative to Attract International Assistance

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to show leadership and stop de-marketing the country and blocking Nigeria’s chances of accessing international help in critical sectors.

The party said it is saddening that rather than engaging his international hosts on ways to pull the country’s economy from the biting recession, the president has been busy trying to convince his people on reelection bid.

“Only yesterday, our dear country was burdened with yet another integrity issue following claims by President Buhari before British Prime Minister, Theresa May, that he is not preoccupied with the 2019 general election, when the world is already aware that he has since kicked off his campaign.

"All over the world, well-meaning leaders relegate their personal interests, accept responsibility in the face of failure and use every opportunity to seek help and remedy a bad situation.

"Nigerians are therefore miffed that instead of presenting the true state of affairs in our country under his watch, particularly the comatose economy and worsened insecurity, President Buhari, obviously in a bid to give an impression of performance, chose to understate the challenges, thereby jeopardising the chances of securing much needed international support for the country.

"We are shocked that rather than engaging his international hosts on ways to pull our economy from the biting recession, Buhari opted for self-praise and brandishing unsubstantiated record of achievements, thus stalling possible beneficial bilateral discussions and engagements in that area.

"Is it not a disservice that President Buhari is sounding brass in London instead of seeking solution for the woes the poor policies of his administration have plunged our country into?” PDP querried.

The opposition party said in the last three years, under his watch, there have been little or no direct foreign investments; critical infrastructures have collapsed with multinational companies relocating to other countries.

It added that Nigeria is no longer among the first 10 investment destinations in Africa, leading to mass closure of businesses, massive job losses and biting poverty in the country.

PDP said: "Furthermore, is it not preposterous that President Buhari told the British Prime Minister that his administration is achieving food security when in truth, we are facing a major food crisis in Nigeria, with prices of staple food, particularly rice, now beyond the reach of the citizens?

"Additionally, we are sure that the British Prime Minister will be pleasantly amazed at President Buhari’s success claims on security as the international community is aware that security concerns have worsened under his watch, with daily bloodletting and marauding of communities turning our country into a large killing field.

"We are therefore surprised that our dear president failed to seize the moment to open serious bilateral talks on practical strategies to end the scourge and ensure the safety for Nigerians, especially given his recent declaration that the marauders were deserters from Libya.

"In spite of his belief to the contrary, it is obvious that President Buhari is completely preoccupied with his 2019 re-election ambition for which governance and the welfare of Nigerians have completely taken the back seat.

"Finally, we hope that the president would have the opportunity to address the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), and we implore him to use the august occasion to present the true state of affairs in our dear country and seek help so that Nigeria will access the necessary assistance from the international community.”