The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its attack on Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state and the party’s vice-presidential candidate, following his comments about the death of his mother.
Speaking on Friday during an interview on Channels
Television’s Politics Today, the former governor of Rivers said the rising cost
of medicines under the Tinubu administration made it difficult for his family
to care for his mother before her death.
“Because policies are killing people. I’ve lost my mother.
Before Tinubu, my mother was healthy. Suddenly, by the time Tinubu came, it was
difficult to buy drugs for my mother,” Amaechi had said.
Responding in a statement, the APC said Amaechi’s comments
showed he was “unfit” to occupy the office of vice-president.
‘A FAMILY’S GRIEF SHOULD NEVER BE TURNED INTO RIDICULE’
In a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, director
of strategic communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), the
party described the APC’s response as “political cruelty” rather than an answer
to the hardship facing Nigerians.
Shaibu said the death of Amaechi’s mother and his family’s
grief should not be turned into material for partisan ridicule.
“A mother’s death and a family’s grief should never be
turned into material for partisan ridicule,” he said.
“If Rotimi Amaechi says he struggled to afford his mother’s
medication, the humane response is compassion.”
Shaibu said Morka’s description of Amaechi reflected what he
described as the APC’s contempt for ordinary Nigerians struggling with the cost
of living.
“Morka calls Amaechi a loafer for struggling outside public
office. That insult says more about the APC’s contempt for ordinary people than
it says about Amaechi,” he said.
The ADC PCC said Nigerians struggling to afford treatment,
electricity and transportation should not be labelled loafers.
“Nigerians who cannot afford treatment, keep the lights on
or travel safely on their roads are not loafers,” Shaibu said.
“They are citizens living through the consequences of a
government that has failed them.”
‘ROADS, ECONOMY, ELECTRICITY, SECURITY ARE BAD’
Shaibu said the APC should focus on the economic and social
difficulties facing Nigerians instead of attacking Amaechi.
“The reality is plain: the roads are bad, the economy is
bad, electricity is bad, security is bad and the welfare of the people is bad,”
he said.
“Tinubu’s name is increasingly associated with poverty,
insecurity and hardship. No amount of mockery can make those conditions
disappear.”
He said the performance of a government should be measured
by whether citizens can live safely, afford medical treatment and earn a decent
living.
“The test of government is not how viciously its spokesmen
can insult their opponents. It is whether people can live safely, afford
treatment and earn a decent living. On that test, Tinubu’s government has
failed,” Shaibu said.
He called on Morka to explain the government’s record and
urged the APC to respect Amaechi’s family as they mourn his mother.
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