Tinubu under fire over broadcast
· PDP, Falana, Ezekwesili, others flay president
· Protesters vow to push on
· Kachikwu, Akande sue for truce
By Our Correspondents
President Bola Tinubu has continued to receive flaks over his Sunday, August 4, 2024 national broadcast over the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest in the country.
In the broadcast, President Tinubu urged the protesters to stop their demonstrations, explaining that removing the fuel subsidy and unifying the foreign exchange systems were necessary steps to prevent exploitation by smugglers and rent-seekers.
Tinubu added that these measures also stopped unjust subsidies benefiting neighbouring countries at Nigerians’ expense, which had severely weakened the nation’s economy.
He emphasized that the Nigerian economy had been stagnant for decades due to numerous misalignments that hindered its growth.
PDP reacts
However, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as well as other Nigerians have described the broadcast as falling short of addressing the issues that precipitated the nation-wide protest except in the South East of the country.
The PDP labelled the president’s speech as a distraction.
In a Sunday statement, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the speech failed to address the protesters’ concerns.
Ologunagba stated that Tinubu’s speech clearly demonstrates the All Progressives Congress administration’s insensitivity towards Nigerians and the dire situation in the country.
The statement reads, “Our party is appalled that despite the fact that it took President Tinubu the prodding of the PDP to speak to the nation, it is distressing that the speech failed to offer any concrete measure to address the excruciating hardship in the country.
“Mr President’s speech failed to respond to the demand by the citizens for immediate measures to reduce the price of petroleum products, halt the fall of the Naira and urgent intervention in the provision of food items to starving Nigerians.
“It is equally shocking that the speech did not order an investigation into the brutal killing of unarmed Nigerians by certain unscrupulous operatives of the APC-controlled security agencies while demanding good governance, protection, security and welfare, which are the primary purposes of government.
“Instead, the speech dwelt on APC’s counter-productive action of disregarding the feelings and pains of the people by focusing on self-praise, claims of imaginary achievements and empty projections in the face of the apparent and obvious failure of the APC in every aspect of governance.
“Such only reinforces public apprehension that the APC administration is uncaring and impervious to the suffering and pains of millions of Nigerians, particularly the youths whose dreams, hopes and aspirations are being dashed by the APC.”
Ezekwesili, Falana taunt president
Also, former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, said Tinubu’s broadcast speech regarding the nationwide protest was underwhelming.
In an X post on Sunday, Ezekwesili said Tinubu’s speech was a monumental missed opportunity to placate citizens with sound answers and outline of convincing evidence-based actions.
The former minister added that the speech terribly failed to connect to what the protesters were protesting about, adding that it was written out of a mindset that was focused on “getting back at our enemies”.
She wrote, “@officialABAT, As one of the millions of Nigerians who were at church when you delivered your late-in-coming speech to Citizens on the #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria protests, let me loudly say it was terribly underwhelming to read.
“Your speech reads like a page from your party manifesto and terribly failed to connect to what our citizens on the streets are angry and protesting about.
“Your speech is quite a monumental missed opportunity to placate citizens with sound answers and outline of convincing evidence-based actions that you and your @NigeriaGov will immediately take to address the priority #BadGovernance concerns.
“Your speech was sadly again written out of a mindset that is focused on “getting back at our enemies”. Imaginary enemies at that! No true Leader has the luxury of having “enemies” among their citizens. Not at all. A public leader becomes the leader of all with a mind that does not think of any as their enemies.
“This is why it is ever unfortunate to see Nigerian public “leaders” talk and behave like Losers on matters of public governance where they are expected to rally all their citizens behind the common purpose of nation-building.”
Also, human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, charged the president to address the demands of the peaceful protesters.
Falana said, “If the government takes the fight against corruption to oil dealers and crude oil is processed in government-owned refineries, there will be no basis for fuel subsidy, which is induced by the importation of petroleum products. A positive response to the key demands of the youths to review the protesters could make them review their actions. Insensitivity to their demands can only provoke continued action.”
Falana demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all protesters that were arrested and detained saying they had not committed any criminal offence, and condemned the repression of the peaceful protesters while commiserating with all those who lost loved ones in the protest.
He called on the government to set up commissions of inquiry to bring to justice those responsible for the reckless killings.
Protesters vow to shut businesses in Jos
In Jos, Plateau state, hundreds of protesters flooded the popular Bauchi Road, on Sunday, issuing a stern warning to all business owners to join them on Monday or shut down.
The protesters said the move is to prevent damage to their properties.
According to the protesters, President Tinubu’s Sunday broadcast failed to address the pressing challenges facing the nation.
They vowed to mobilise more people to come out to express their grievances and dissatisfaction with the broadcast, adding that the protest is the only way to voice their concern to government.
The protesters, comprising adults and young people, were seen carrying placards, leaves, and flags of different countries moving from streets to another to issue the warning, saying, “no business tomorrow. Everyone should come out tomorrow for the protest.”
Kachikwu, Akande seek truce
Former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dumebi Kachikwu, has urged #EndBadGovernance protesters to sheath their swords and opt for dialogue, explaining that the looting and killings recorded in the past few days call for sober reflection.
Kachikwu, who made the appeal in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, disclosed that this is not the time for Nigerians to engage in any form of blame game.
He stressed that since no ‘politician’s child’ participated in the mass action or was among the casualties reported in the demonstrations is enough indication the masses are alone in tne struggle.
He said: “We can’t continue killing ourselves. Our streets flow with the blood of the innocent. Over 19 killed in this protest, all for what? No child of any politician or big man was killed. Just the poor, average Nigerian. Only their family members will cry and mourn for them quietly while those who have made billions from this scam laugh to the bank.
“We are witnessing unprecedented hardship right now. The poor can barely eat a meal in two days. Most of us can no longer afford the necessities. The population of the poor is increasing by the minute. We as leaders need to come to a table of equity, justice and fairness to address the plight of the downtrodden immediately.
“Our nation needs healing and for this to happen, all Nigerians must come to equity with clean hands and sincerity of purpose.”
In a related development, former presidential spokesperson, Laolu Akande, has voiced support for the #EndBadGovernance protests, acknowledging their legitimacy while urging protesters to engage in dialogue with the federal government.
His comment, made on My Take segment of Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, comes as the nationwide protests continue to gain momentum.
“If they’re able to remove the violence [in the ongoing#EndBandGovernance protests], Nigerian youths may have scored an important goal in matters of governance and accountability. Even before the protests started, we’ve all witnessed important public engagement by government.”
