The immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, has said that Nigerians believe, “out of foolishness,” allegations made by the ruling All Progressives Congress that the opposition party caused the nation’s economic and financial challenges.
Farounbi, a veteran journalist and politician, also described Nigerians as “fools” and “weaklings” for allegedly failing to challenge and confront the incumbent government, despite the financial and economic hardship it had brought upon them.
He said it was obvious that Nigerians had got tired of the present administration of President Muhammad Buhari but were too weak to confront it.
The PDP chieftain added that some Nigerians now wanted the military to take over the governance of the country, owing to the unprecedented suffering they were being subjected to.
It’s foolish if Nigerians believe that the PDP caused the country’s economic challenges
But Farounbi noted that Nigeria’s current challenges were caused by the military and some greedy politicians.
The ex-ambassador disclosed this on a radio programme monitored in Osogbo on Tuesday.
Defending the 16-year reign of the PDP and exonerating the party from the alleged misrule, the top diplomat explained that the major opposition party was able to prevent the military from taking over the country, saying this was part of the major achievements of the past PDP governments.
He also said that the PDP was able to reintegrate Nigeria into the international community after being expelled by the Commonwealth of Nations, maintaining that the party achieved far better than the ruling APC.
Farounbi said, “It’s absolutely foolish if Nigerians believe that the PDP caused the country’s economic challenges and they (APC) are able to say it because Nigerians are foolish.
When Obasanjo was in power, we (PDP) were expelled from the Common Wealth of Nations. It was PDP that reintegrated Nigeria to the international community.
“We have made it impossible for the military to come back in 16 years. People (Nigerians) are now saying that they don’t mind the military coming back. In 2014, we had the best economy.
They (APC) did not campaign to win. They did not know they would win and that was why they could not put up a cabinet, six months after being elected. It was unfortunate that nobody asked question,” he said.
Farounbi argued that the corruption being perpetrated under the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was greater than the one PDP was accused of.
