APC manifesto impracticable, says PDP

FROM TAIWO AMODU, ABUJA

The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has dismissed the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) as bogus and impracticable.

National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in his critique of the manifesto of the main opposition party, entitled, "APC: One week, one lie … A manifesto of deceit," claimed the programmes the APC promised to deliver to Nigerians were not realizable amid grim economic reality facing the nation.

Metuh told newsmen that the APC's programme of monthly stipend of N5,000 to unemployed youths, creation of 740,000 youth jobs in the 36 states in one year, free education, among others, were not feasible.

According to him, "we have called you here to list some of these fabrications and empty promises of the APC in the last four months and through you, convey them to the electorate and the international community so that they will not be deceived. "For instance, the APC in one of its phantom promises, said it would pay a stipend of N5, 000 each to 25 million poor Nigerians monthly. This gives a total of N125 billion each month and N1.5 trillion every year.

"What is baffling is that the APC knows full well that this is not only unrealistic, but also impracticable in a nation with an estimated budget of N4.69 trillion comprising recurrent and capital expenditures yet, they continue to dish it out to unsuspecting citizens in a clear bid to mislead.

"Also, the deceitful tendency of the APC came to light in its promise to create 740, 000 direct jobs in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within one year, while on the other hand, promising to create one million jobs for Igbo youths also within the same period. We ask, which one do we believe?

"The APC has also promised to provide free education, daily free meals for millions of school children, free tertiary education, free health care and free houses to Nigerians. The opposition knows too well that this is unrealistic yet, they prefer to brandish falsehood.

"The APC should tell Nigerians how they would fulfill their promises with the prevailing 40% drop in national income and dwindling oil price in the international market. These promises are therefore, either bogus or part of their plot to subject the citizens to a harsh tax regime ostensibly to finance Bourdilon Drive and other personal interests, the real reason they desperately seek power," he said.

Metuh cautioned Nigerians not to vote APC, as he claimed that the party would impose excruciating tax regime on the nation.

"We therefore, challenge the APC to come forward and admit before Nigerians that these promises are false and merely deceitful if not, they should be bold enough to tell Nigerians that they are planning to skyrocket our personal income and company taxes if they ever get to power.

"Under the PDP-led administration, company tax is a maximum of 30 percent of the profit whereas personal income tax hovers from 1% for minimum wage earners to a maximum of 19% for Nigerians earning up to N100 million," he said.



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