Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine, has voiced concerns about President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast, stating that the President failed to address the demands of ongoing protesters across the country.
In his address on Sunday, Tinubu spoke amid the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests, which began on August 1.
The protesters have called for various reforms, including the reinstatement of fuel subsidies, better living standards, reduced government spending, lower electricity tariffs, and improved security.
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In a statement shared on his X account, Momodu expressed his disappointment, noting that he had little expectation of Tinubu making concessions to the protesters.
He said he was shocked by the President’s speech, suggesting that Tinubu is unlikely to abandon a strategy that has served him well since his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
Momodu added that it was wishful thinking to believe that the President would listen to the protesters and show compassion to the struggling Nigerian populace.
He wrote, “Fellow Nigerians, good morning. After the long-awaited speech of President Bola Tinubu eventually came this morning, I’m sure most of you would be as stupefied as me.
“I must confess that I had little hope of Tinubu granting some concessions to the aggrieved Nigerians. As a man who has held an iron grip on Lagos State for the last 25 years, it would be difficult for him to change a winning formula that has worked for him ever since.
“Also, what did we expect his advisers to be telling him when most of them have been his most fanatical cronies from Lagos who have learnt never to challenge the master?
“So it was merely wishful thinking on the part of incurable optimists like me to think he was going to have mercy on hapless and seemingly helpless Nigerians.”
