NDC Slams Tinubu’s Campaign Spokesperson Over Failed 112 Emergency Line Demonstration

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s campaign spokesperson, Mallam Alwan Hassan, following his unsuccessful attempt to demonstrate the functionality of Nigeria’s 112 emergency line during a live television appearance.

The opposition party described the incident as a national embarrassment and accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of failing to provide reliable public services.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NDC’s National Campaign Council spokesperson, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, urged the Federal Government to address the problems affecting the emergency response system rather than attribute the failed demonstration to network issues.

The party said the incident raised concerns about the country’s emergency response infrastructure and the government’s preparedness to protect citizens during critical situations.

It argued that Nigerians needed a dependable emergency line to report accidents, violent attacks, medical emergencies and other incidents where immediate assistance could save lives.

The statement described Hassan’s attempt to showcase the service as evidence of what the party called broader failures under the APC administration.

“The failed attempt by President Bola Tinubu’s Campaign Spokesperson, Mallam Alwan Hassan, to demonstrate the functionality of Nigeria’s 112 emergency line on national television was nothing short of a national embarrassment, and a prime example of the total flop of All Progressives Congress (APC) government that we’ve been speaking about,” Ikokwu said.

The NDC also rejected the explanation that the line’s failure resulted from network problems, insisting that the government should focus on resolving the challenges rather than offering excuses.

The party linked the incident to what it described as wider national problems, including insecurity, poorly equipped hospitals, unreliable public infrastructure, institutional weaknesses and the rising cost of living.

It further accused the government of paying more attention to defending its public image than addressing the difficulties faced by ordinary Nigerians.

“Governance is not about what government spokespersons say on television, it is about what ordinary Nigerians experience when they need their government most,” the statement added.

The NDC called on the APC-led government to acknowledge its shortcomings and prepare to leave office in 2027. It also promoted its presidential ticket, led by Peter Obi and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as an alternative.

The party said an NDC-led administration would work towards addressing the country’s challenges, insisting that Nigerians deserved functional institutions and dependable public services.

“Nigerians deserve a government that works, institutions that function and public services that can be trusted when lives are on the line. Public safety is not a propaganda exercise. And the lives of Nigerians are too important to be reduced to a failed television demonstration,” the statement said.