Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a Cheiftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, has urged Nigerians, especially members of the opposition parties to desist from making statements that could incite the masses against the government.
Oyintiloye said that, while it is the right of the opposition parties to act as watchdogs to the government’s policies and programmes, making comments that could destabilise the country was not the best approach.
The APC Cheiftain, who made the remarks in a chat with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, said that unchecked negative comments and criticisms by the opposition parties could cause unnecessary distractions to the government.
Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said that what the government needed from the opposition at this time was constructive criticism, which could help the government to concentrate on the delivering of goods governance.
The APC chieftain said that politics of bitterness and hatred by the opposition would not in any way promote unity in the country but rather division and ill feelings among the citizens.
Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said that anyone hiding under the umbrella of the opposition to incite the masses against the government through comments should be regarded as enemy of the country.
He said that while President Bola Tinubu was trying everything possible to fix the economy, there is need for constructive criticism that could assist him in improving on the economy and other sectors.
Oyintiloye noted that the recent comments by some members of the opposition parties against the President were not necessary.
“The truth is that we don’t have any other country except Nigeria, and that is why we need to play the role of opposition reasonably.
“Making comments that could incite the masses against the government in the name of politics is unpatriotic and should be avoided.
“Members of the opposition parties have the right to criticise the government but such should be constructive to assist government to achieve its best for the people.
“Constructive criticism is about appreciating the good policies and highlighting the drawbacks, and not despising the policies and programmes of the government.
“If such it is done in good faith, it will keep the true essence of democracy alive, give it a chance of improving the quality of good governance and hence create a better society,” he said.
Oyintiloye, however, said that government, with all sense of responsibility should take seriously constructive criticism that would improve the country and make it enviable among the comity of nations.
He insisted that what the President needed at this point in time was support and prayers for him to succeed. (NAN)
