Major opposition parties have criticized former President Muhammadu Buhari for urging Nigerians to turn to God for Nigeria’s revival instead of taking responsibility for the failures of successive All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations.
During an APC stakeholders’ meeting in Katsina on Saturday, Buhari, speaking in Hausa, encouraged his supporters not to lose hope in Nigeria, stating, “Only God who created Nigeria can solve the problems of Nigeria.” The statement has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing frustration.
In an interview with The PUNCH, the National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, described Buhari’s comments as an acknowledgment of the APC’s failures.
He said, “This is an admission that the APC government has completely failed Nigerians and plunged the nation into economic turmoil. Buhari’s remarks reveal that even the current administration is clueless about addressing the country’s problems. The APC has been operating on a trial-and-error basis, and it’s evident they lack the leadership required to change Nigeria’s fortunes.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) echoed similar sentiments. Speaking to The PUNCH, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor argued that Buhari’s remarks were not only an indictment of his own administration but also a critique of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
Osadolor said, “Nigerians should commend Buhari for his honesty about the state of the nation. However, he failed to acknowledge that he laid the foundation for the ineptitude we see today. His statement is a vote of no confidence in Tinubu, affirming that this administration is merely delivering speeches without tangible results. This is a wake-up call for all Nigerians to rescue the country before it collapses.”
Similarly, Labour Party National Youth Leader Prince Kennedy Ahanotu expressed no surprise at Buhari’s remarks, claiming that the former president had always lacked the capacity to lead effectively. He emphasized the need to empower younger leaders to rectify past mistakes.
Ahanotu said, “I’ve never been a fan of Buhari and didn’t expect much from him. His eight-year tenure brought no progress, and now, another APC-led administration is proving no better. It’s time for Nigeria to embrace a younger generation of leaders who can deliver the true dividends of democracy. Buhari’s lamentations are meaningless because APC governments have consistently failed to listen to advice from well-meaning Nigerians.”
The opposition parties collectively called for decisive leadership to address Nigeria’s challenges, warning that continued governance failures could push the country further into disarray.
