The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has launched a scathing attack on Senator Orji Uzor Kalu over his recent comments on the state of Nigeria’s economy and the viability of opposition parties, describing his position as misleading and disconnected from reality.
In a strongly worded rebuttal, the party accused the Abia North lawmaker of promoting what it termed “contrived and spurious narratives” in defence of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while ignoring the economic and security challenges confronting Nigerians.
According to an official signed statement by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Hon. Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, the opposition bloc in Nigeria remains active and strategically mobilised, contrary to claims that it is weak or irrelevant.
The statement followed comments reportedly made by Kalu during a press briefing at the National Assembly complex, where he praised the Federal Government’s economic policies and suggested that opposition parties lacked the strength to challenge the ruling party in future elections.
The NDC dismissed those assertions as political propaganda, insisting that a broad coalition of opposition forces is already consolidating to challenge what it described as attempts by the ruling party to entrench itself through “state capture, weaponisation of poverty, and suppression of dissent.”
The party further criticised Kalu for what it called his proximity to the President, urging him to “speak truth to power” rather than endorse policies it claimed have worsened the living conditions of Nigerians.
On the economy, the NDC described the performance of the Tinubu administration as “dismal, grim and poor,” challenging the senator and other government officials to provide verifiable economic indicators to justify claims of progress.
It argued that key economic metrics, including GDP growth, foreign direct investment inflows, inflation, unemployment, and debt-to-GDP ratio, reflect a deteriorating economic landscape. The party also cited issues such as the closure of businesses, declining industrial output, high cost of borrowing, and persistent insecurity as evidence of systemic failure.
The statement further alleged that many Nigerians are grappling with worsening poverty, increased migration pressures, and youth restiveness, all of which it attributed to what it termed “rudderless governance.”
Reaffirming its stance, the NDC maintained that opposition parties are actively engaging stakeholders across the country to build a formidable political alternative capable of unseating the ruling party in the next general elections.
The party also called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and reject what it described as “illogical and misleading narratives” aimed at downplaying the country’s economic realities and weakening democratic opposition.
Concluding, the NDC urged political leaders to prioritise national interest over partisan loyalty, stressing that the pursuit of enduring legacy should outweigh the quest for power and influence.
