The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned the planned international press conference in London by top officials of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, describing it as an extravagant and insensitive public relations jamboree funded at taxpayers? expense in the face of dire economic hardship and unaddressed domestic crises.

This was made known in a press statement released on Tuesday by the National Coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, who berated the Federal Government for what the Association termed ?a monumental show of irresponsibility, tone-deaf governance, and outright mockery of millions of suffering Nigerians.?

According to reports, a delegation led by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; and other heads of key government agencies are set to travel to London to unveil what they call the ?achievements and legacy projects? of the Tinubu administration at an international press conference. The project is being coordinated by Bode Adeyemi, the Project Internal Coordinator of the President Bola Tinubu Midterm Legacy Projects Review Committee.

However, HURIWA condemned the exercise as an unconscionable squandering of public funds and an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians who are struggling daily under the weight of economic hardship, escalating insecurity, massive unemployment, and a crumbling infrastructure base.

?It is both disgraceful and inexcusable that ministers who have failed to communicate transparently with Nigerians at home, failed to provide effective public services, and failed to deliver tangible improvements to the daily lives of citizens, are now jetting off to the UK to tell foreigners fairytales of imaginary success stories,? said HURIWA.

?Is it in London that the Tinubu government suddenly finds Nigerians who need to be told what they have ?achieved?? Or is this just another elitist vanity project to wine and dine with diaspora allies, launder the administration?s image abroad, and suppress the truth about the glaring poverty and failures back home??

HURIWA further argued that the press conference is nothing but a propaganda-driven public relations stunt designed to whitewash the dismal performance of the administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who, in barely two years in office, has overseen some of the most debilitating policies and anti-people reforms in Nigeria?s recent history.

?From the reckless removal of fuel subsidies without a social safety net, to the floating of the naira that has devastated the value of the currency, this administration has inflicted needless suffering on Nigerians. Inflation is out of control. Security agencies are overstretched. Hunger, kidnappings, and violent crimes are rampant. Civil servants and pensioners are still owed, while the national debt continues to spiral out of control. These are not achievements to be celebrated abroad but failures to be accounted for at home,? HURIWA stated.

The association also raised questions about the transparency and budgetary justification of the London trip, querying whether the National Assembly approved the junket and if Nigerians were informed of the cost implications. It accused the administration of prioritizing propaganda over good governance and spending public funds to orchestrate a publicity campaign with no measurable benefit to the country.

?It is hypocritical for the same ministers who demand sacrifices from ordinary Nigerians, telling them to endure hunger and suffering for future gains, to turn around and embark on a luxury tour of Europe, pretending to promote ?legacy projects.? If these projects are so impactful, Nigerians would already be feeling their effects in their homes, communities, hospitals, schools, and markets?not on foreign soil,? Onwubiko emphasized.

The Association also took a swipe at the APC UK Chapter Chairman, Tunde Doherty, for claiming the conference would "present the right narrative" about the administration. HURIWA warned against any attempt to suppress the truth and mislead the international community.

?No amount of choreographed press conferences in London can erase the suffering of Nigerians. No glitzy compendium or website will wipe away the anguish of a mother who cannot feed her children, or a farmer who cannot access his fields due to terrorists and bandits. The real narrative is what the world sees on the streets of Nigeria?not what is staged in a Hilton ballroom in London.?

While reaffirming its commitment to exposing bad governance and promoting accountability, HURIWA demanded the immediate cancellation of the London event and urged President Tinubu to recall his ministers to focus on solving Nigeria?s many problems instead of gallivanting around the world in a futile bid for applause.

HURIWA also called on the National Assembly to summon the ministers involved in the trip and demand full disclosure of the funding, purpose, and projected outcomes of the event. It said such a lavish trip during a time of deep national crisis is not only offensive but criminally irresponsible.

?The people deserve better. Nigeria deserves leaders who will stay at home, roll up their sleeves, and work for the common good?not those who seek global validation while their citizens suffer. If there are achievements, let them be seen and felt, not announced from overseas podiums.?

HURIWA concluded by calling on the civil society community, the media, and all patriotic Nigerians to stand up against the institutionalization of impunity, propaganda, and elitist arrogance that continues to define the current administration.

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