The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s response to the #EndBadGovernance protesters, describing it as hollow and insufficient in addressing the suffering of Nigerians.
As economic hardships deepen, many Nigerians are struggling to afford basic necessities. In response, youths initiated protests on Thursday, which have persisted into Saturday in cities like Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, and others, demanding an end to hunger and poor governance.
During a Sunday broadcast, President Tinubu urged the protesters to cease their demonstrations.
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He justified his decisions to remove the fuel subsidy and unify the foreign exchange systems as necessary measures to combat exploitation by smugglers and rent-seekers.
Tinubu argued that these actions also prevented unjust subsidies from benefiting neighboring countries at the expense of Nigerians, which had severely weakened the nation’s economy.
He emphasized that the Nigerian economy had been stagnant for decades due to numerous misalignments hindering its growth.
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In a statement on Sunday, Atiku criticized President Tinubu’s broadcast for overlooking the severe economic challenges that Nigerian families have faced since the beginning of his administration.
He stated, “This address lacks credibility and fails to offer any immediate, tangible solutions to the Nigerian people. Given the extensive publicity surrounding the protests and the threats issued by government officials against demonstrators, one would have expected President Tinubu to present groundbreaking reforms, particularly those aimed at reducing the exorbitant costs of governance.
“But alas, no such announcements were made. The President ignored the protesters’ demands, such as suspending the purchase of aircraft for the President, downsizing his bloated cabinet, or even eliminating the costly and burdensome office of the First Lady, who has been indulging in extravagant trips at the nation’s expense.
“In his lacklustre recorded speech, President Tinubu offered a superficial account of his so-called reforms, revealing his own tenuous grasp of policy as he failed to convince his audience. While the President has spoken, it is unfortunate that his words lack substance and respect for the protesters’ sentiments, leaving Nigerians with little faith in his reform agenda – if one exists at all.
“We urge the President and his team to own up to their failures over the past 14 months and abandon the absurd theory that the protests are orchestrated by the opposition. This administration has failed on all fronts, even in the simple task of keeping a presidential speech confidential.
“Typically, presidential addresses are shared under embargo with media houses. However, the premature leak of this speech, allowing Nigerians to read along with the President in real-time, starkly illustrates the media, nay Nigerians dwindling confidence in this administration.”
