The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged opposition political parties to adopt a New Year resolution anchored on ideas, credible policies and patriotism rather than insults, propaganda and bitterness.
In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Seye Oladejo, the ruling party said the opposition had failed to offer Nigerians viable alternatives.
“As Nigeria marches confidently into a new year, the opposition remains stuck in a familiar wilderness-wandering aimlessly, clutching excuses, and mistaking noise for relevance. If New Year resolutions were mandatory, Nigeria’s opposition would be the most delinquent defaulter,” he said.
Oladejo said as Nigeria enters a new year, the opposition remains confused and directionless, lacking unity, ideas and a clear policy framework capable of strengthening democratic competition.
According to him, democracy thrives on the contest of ideas and not on obstruction, incitement or institutional sabotage, warning that a hollow opposition poses a danger to democratic stability.
The APC spokesman challenged opposition figures to embrace honesty and accountability, stressing that criminal allegations and legal proceedings should not be framed as political persecution.
“In any serious democracy, the rule of law is not suspended because a politician feels offended. Criminal allegations are not acts of persecution, and courtrooms are not theatres for political melodrama. Only in the imagination of a desperate opposition does accountability automatically translate to witch-hunt. Those who cannot answer questions about their own conduct should spare Nigerians the charade of moral outrage,” he said.
Oladejo also accused the opposition of refusing to accept democratic outcomes and engaging in what he described as international pity-shopping, while allegedly hoping for Nigeria’s failure to advance personal political ambitions.
He further called on opposition leaders to unequivocally condemn terrorism, criminality and violence without ethnic or political considerations, noting that selective condemnation undermines moral authority.
While criticising what he termed persistent rhetoric of despair and doom, Oladejo maintained that Nigeria was not a failed state and should not be portrayed as such by those seeking leadership.
He said the APC-led Federal Government under President Bol Tinubu remained focused on governance, economic reforms, security enhancement and laying the foundation for sustainable growth, despite the challenges involved.
“A meaningful New Year resolution for the opposition should therefore start with honesty-telling Nigerians what they intend to do, not what they imagine others are doing wrong. It should include acceptance of democratic outcomes, an end to the undignified habit of international pity-shopping, and a firm decision to stop praying for Nigeria’s collapse just to soothe wounded egos and expired ambitions,” the statement said.
“The Lagos APC therefore advises the opposition to adopt a New Year resolution rooted in ideas over insults, policy over propaganda, and patriotism over personal vendetta. Nigeria needs critics, yes-but not critics who mistake volume for value or bitterness for vision.”
Oladejo added that Nigerians were no longer impressed by political grandstanding, noting that the electorate would continue to support leadership that delivers results and focuses on nation-building rather than excuses.
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