More criticisms are coming in for President Bola Tinubu’s address amidst protests in different states.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, is the latest to give his opinion.
He wants President Tinubu to move away from addressing the country’s problems.
For Peter Obi, President Bola Tinubu merely acknowledged the country’s issues, without offering or implementing effective solutions.
From Thursday, August 1, thousands of Nigerians, primarily young people, began protesting in major cities such as Lagos, Kano and Abuja. They are demanding that the government reverse what they view as ‘damaging’ economic policies.
This unrest follows Tinubu’s announcement last year of the removal of petrol subsidy and liberalise foreign exchange.
Indeed, these actions have significantly increased living costs and driven inflation to record levels.
The president had, in a national broadcast on Sunday, called for dialogue and an immediate end to the nationwide protests that have rocked the nation since Thursday.
He said his administration was ready to listen to and address the concerns of protesters.
He says he heard their calls “loud and clear”.
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But protesters have continued their demonstrations in major cities, including Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna.
Peter Obi Address Tinubu
However, Obi noted that Tinubu’s address “regrettably appeared disconnected from the harsh realities faced by the people and failed to address critical issues that initially triggered the protest.
“It either reflects a lack of awareness among his advisers regarding the scale of anger, hunger, and hardship in the country, or a deliberate choice to disregard it.
“While the President’s speech focused on the past, the people are concerned with the present and the future.
“He should begin by addressing pressing issues such as the exorbitant cost of governance, measures to tackle corruption, the high cost of living, and directing resources effectively towards critical areas like health, education, and poverty alleviation.
“I respectfully reiterate that the President should declare a war on insecurity, the economy, poverty, unemployment, and the power sector”.
Obi is of the opinion that the president should carry the people along with his administration’s economic development plans.
He suggests that the President should hold “regular briefings, whether quarterly or biannually” as it’s done in other climes facing such challenges as Nigeria’s.
