N’Debt Crisis: You Acted Cowardly, ADC Chides Speaker Abbas

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has chided the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for what the party described as his doublespeak over Nigeria’s debt crisis..  .Read ..Full.. Article.. .

The opposition coalition accused the Speaker of volte-face and deviating from the truth just to suit partisan interests.

Ondopress had on Monday reported two conflicting versions of the Speaker’s alarm over Nigeria’s heavy debt burden, and a subsequent modification of his position a few hours later.

A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, further described Abbas’ backpedalling as a missed opportunity for courageous leadership.

The party said the Speaker’s initial admission that the country’s debt has crossed critical levels was a rare moment of honesty from within the ruling party.

It however, lamented that his quick withdrawal was a reflection of “the growing culture of political cowardice and legislative complicity.”

The ADC warned that, with unchecked borrowing and “the most compliant National Assembly in recent history,” Nigeria’s future is being dangerously mortgaged with the full complicity of the legislature.

The party said it received with cautious optimism the Speaker’s initial frank comments on the country’s ballooning debt; especially his admission that Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio has not only crossed the statutory threshold, but also stood at a staggering 52 percent.

The ADC said initial statement by Abbas was not only a rare moment of honesty, but also a validation of what the opposition and many patriotic Nigerians have long warned against —”that this government is mortgaging our future.”

“However, our optimism was short-lived by the Speaker’s sudden recant of a rare demonstration of candour by a leader of the ruling party, and..  Read . .More —