Hunger protests: Tinubu’s speech heavy on mere rhetorics — Opposition leaders

Some of politicians and opposition leaders in the country have faulted the national broadcast of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the heels of the ongoing nationwide  #EndBadGovernance protest.

Chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, while speaking with Tribune Online in a telephone conversation, said Tinubu’s broadcast did not address the issues raised by the agitated youth but merely listed the programmes of his administration.

He said: “He did not quite address the issues. What he did was to roll out his government programmes — what they have implemented and yet to implement, believing that would address the grievances of the protesters.

“There are many critical areas he didn’t mention. Maybe it was an oversight on his part or he didn’t see them as important. 

“First, the issue of unemployment of the youths wasn’t addressed. He was silent on the rate of inflation and food shortage. 

“Secondly, the issue of cost of governance which borders on indecent display of extravagance by public officers. That wasn’t addressed.

“Look at Kenya, the government took the firm stand to cut down on the cost of governance. These are areas he either overlooked or ignored.”

National Chairman of Action Democratic Party (ADP), Engineer Yagbagi Sani, spoke in a similar vein in his critique of the broadcast.

He said: “He left the critical questions unaddressed. The broadcast was heavy on mere rhetorics. Nigerians are asking for a pronouncement that will address issues raised by the protesters. I didn’t find that in his speech.

“He didn’t address cost of governance and was silent on the oil subsidy issue.

“will not be too much if he decides to slash the allowances of his appointees for six months. That will assuage the protesters but he didn’t do that. 

“I think he also need to engage the governors because what they get in terms of allocation doesn’t trickle down to Nigerians.”

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