Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, has described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a rickety vehicle that cannot take Nigeria to any destination.

Speaking at the PDP retreat in Abuja on Tuesday, the Governor of Sokoto State accused the APC of destroying the nation’s economy.

Tambuwal said Nigeria cannot survive another four years under an APC-led Federal Government.

“Can Nigeria survive another four years of APC? The answer is a resounding No. It is too frightening to contemplate,” he said.

The governor stated that it is time to rescue and rebuild Nigeria.

He said: “A rickety vehicle cannot take Nigeria to its destination as the nation with possibilities for greatness and progress. PDP is now once again a well-oiled, serviced vehicle that will midwife the Nigeria of our dreams.

“It is indeed time to Rescue and Rebuild Nigeria. Nigeria is in an urgent need for a surgical operation. Nigeria is in a permanent emergency.

“We all know what the problems are. They are man-made. And is therefore resolvable. It requires a focused, determined, knowledgeable and patriotic organisation of like minds to build the critical mass necessary for a great leap forward. Yes, it requires leadership, with vision and discipline.”

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that Nigeria is suffering from the crisis of governance.

According to him, “We suffer from a crisis of governance. The unity of Nigeria is facing unprecedented challenges. Life in Nigeria is increasingly becoming brutish and short as insecurity ravages the land. Poverty is the forte of the ordinary Nigerian. The health and education of our people has not improved. “Our people are in want. The economy is in dire straits with the exchange rate now about N540 to a Dollar from the N150 to a Dollar when PDP left office. Prices of food stuff and essential commodities are unsustainable. Clearly beyond the reach of the average Nigerian.

“Between 35 to 40% of Nigerians are unemployed. And women and youths bear the main brunt. Bandits, kidnappers, terrorists are having a field day. Almost unchallenged. Our children are not safe even in their schools.

“Corruption still stalk the land. Nepotism, ethnic and religious bigotry reign supreme in today’s APC’s Nigeria. Our infrastructure is still comatose.

“Trust and hope in Nigeria is at its lowest. Our lamentations can go on, ad infinitum. But the test of leadership is the ability to solve problems. What solutions will PDP offer? What is the way forward?”

Tambuwal stated that the PDP is ready to change the fortunes of the country.

“Well, this is why we have gathered here, to brainstorm and offer policy options for Nigeria. We cannot only criticise; we must provide workable solutions and clear policy alternatives. This will be presented to the Nigerian people. A sharp contrast must be drawn with the ruling incompetent and rudderless APC administration.

“PDP has shown that it has learnt its lessons. It is ready for power in 2023. To provide hope where ineptitude currently exists.

“Where APC thrives in excuses, PDP will take responsibility. Where APC thrives in propaganda and deceit, PDP will be transparent with Nigerians. Whereas APC Government thrives in insecurity, PDP will secure Nigeria. Whereas APC presides over Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world, PDP will make Nigeria prosperous. APC has wrecked our economy, but PDP will salvage it. Where APC focuses on selective anti-corruption fight, PDP will fight corruption with appropriate institutional reforms,” he said.

The governor stated that Nigeria must embrace restructuring to survive. “It must restructure its polity, economy, security and ways of doing things. It must embrace relative autonomy and decentralisation of power. This will unleash the energies of our people, especially, the young. It is time to allow Nigeria blossom. It is doable with all hands on deck.

“We must embrace innovation and technology as a way of life. Technology will solve the youth unemployment time tomb. Technology will improve our agriculture, health, industralisation, education and indeed, it has implications and impacts on all facets of our lives. It is in this respect that we continue to condemn the twitter ban as a retrogressive action that should never have happened,” he said.