By Abdullahi Inuwa
Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad has taken a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing it of squandering Nigeria’s wealth during its 16 years in power without delivering a single transformative project comparable to the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway.
In a post on his X account, Ahmad argued that despite ruling through two major oil booms, PDP failed to invest in tangible infrastructure that could benefit Nigerians today. He pointed out that between 1999 and 2008, when crude oil prices soared above $140 per barrel and production hit a record 2.5 million barrels per day, the party had an unprecedented revenue inflow but left behind little to show for it.
Comparing the PDP era to countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which channeled their oil wealth into development, Ahmad lamented that Nigeria “built nothing and saved nothing.” He also highlighted another oil boom between 2010 and 2014, when prices averaged over $100 per barrel, yet infrastructure remained stagnant.
In contrast, Ahmad praised former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for delivering major projects despite lower oil revenue. “Had they [PDP] achieved even one-third of what President Buhari accomplished in his eight years, Nigeria’s story would be completely different today,” he stated.
Concluding his remarks, he advised the PDP to stay away from governance and focus on seeking forgiveness from Nigerians for “wasting power, opportunity, and resources.”
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