.Tinubu’s speech hollow, diversionary, failed to address hardship of Nigerians – Atiku, PDP
.Address mockery of ordinary people, full of arrogance, empty promises – RSM
.President hasn’t disappointed Nigerians, says Okupe
By Tunde Opalana
Mixed reactions have greeted the early Sunday nationwide broadcast by President Bola Tinubu to address the state of the nation as the protest against bad governance entered its fifth day today.
President Bola Tinubu, in the broadcast, begged organisers of the protests and other aggrieved Nigerians to give his administration the needed chance to fully recover the ailing economy by halting forthwith the protest which is capable of annihilating the economy and bringing the nation on its knees.
Tinubu said “the economy is recovering. Please don’t shut out its oxygen”.
The President’s plea was against the backdrop of the destructive effects of the protest in the first three days to which some lives were lost and public and private properties and investments worth several billion of Naira were destroyed and looted by hoodlums who had jacked what started as a peaceful protest.
“The destruction of properties as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them,” he lamented.
He said the unquantifiable loss and hindrance of several Nigerians to their legitimate business and loss of huge revenue by government at different levels, if not immediately checked, can put on hold efforts by his administration to bring back the economy on its footing.
But former Vice President of the country, Alhani Atiku Abubakar said Tinubu’s speech is hollow, and failed to address the hardship of Nigerians
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement signed by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, said President Tinubu’s broadcast intended to quell the fervour of public protests against his administration’s poor governance, utterly misses the mark.
He said Tinubu’s speech “neglects the pressing economic hardships that have besieged Nigerian families since the very beginning of his tenure.”
According to Atiku, the president’s address lacked credibility and failed 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,” he said.
Atiku urged President Tinubu 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.
He further said: “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.
“The opposition did not create the economic quagmire we find ourselves in; this disaster is solely the result of the Tinubu administration’s trial-and-error policies. It is high time they stopped the blame game and faced the reality of their failures.”
In its reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asserted that the speech by President Tinubu clearly confirmed the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration’s insensitivity towards Nigerians and the very precarious situation in the country.
National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement, said the party is appalled that despite the fact that it took President Tinubu the prodding of the party 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.
The PDP said: “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 for good governance, protection, security and welfare, which are the primary purpose 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 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, hope and aspiration are being dashed by the APC.
“It is clear that the APC administration is overwhelmed and has no answers to the myriads of problems occasioned by its anti-people policies that are suffocating life in the country.”
The major opposition party asked the APC to admit failure and be willing to accept alternative views and suggestions at this moment recognizing that what Nigerians need now is solution and not rhetoric.
“Our party calls on President Tinubu to come to terms with the fact that the nation is in dire straits under his watch. He should address the demands of the people particularly to reduce the cost of petroleum products, stabilize the Naira and take immediate steps towards the provision of food items to Nigerians.
“President Tinubu should cut the size of governance, expenditure on luxury items and free more resources for immediate intervention towards the wellbeing of Nigerians,” said the party.
On its own part, the Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) described Tinubu’s address as “a mockery of the ordinary people, full of arrogance, empty promises and a journey without destination”.
The Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) unequivocally condemned the unprovoked attack on peaceful protesters by the Nigerian police and other security agencies. Adding that “the Nigeria police and army must stop violent attacks on protesters now”.
The RSM reaction was contained in a statement yesterday by its publicity secretary, Comrade Salako Kayode.
The movement called for full investigation into the killing of protesters while demanding that the investigation committee must be composed of representatives of unions, social movements and other grassroots organisations, stressing that it has no faith that the government or the police itself will punish those responsible.
“RSM salutes Nigerians for coming out to fight against the despotic and totalitarian Tinubu regime despite attempts to turn the protest to tribalism. The nationwide anti-hunger protest is long overdue as all tribes in Nigeria are suffering from the anti-poor policies of the Tinubu/APC government.
“So far close to 50 people have been killed. 200 have been arrested and detained nationwide. We will fight tirelessly to get justice for those that were killed and demand release of all protesters.
“It is shocking to see the Nigerian police using live ammunition on unarmed civilians protesting against policies that have made life unbearable.
“The Tinubu administration ordered the shooting of hungry Nigerians who came to air out their grievances at a time when the gory memories of the October 2020 #ENDSARS protest are still vivid. It is a heinous crime against the Nigerian people.
“Nigerians should not be deterred by any form of intimidation by the government as it is a normal thing with successive administrations to bully citizens and sweep it under the carpet.
“The ruling class in Nigeria both past and present are undemocratic capitalist politicians that support neo liberal policies that make life unliveable for ordinary people,” the statement read
The RSM called on Nigerians to continue to come out until the Tinubu/APC government is forced to take some measures.
“Community organisers must closely monitor the developments in the country and hold the Tinubu administration accountable for the lives lost.
“We equally call on all Nigerians to totally reject the mass hunger and suffering brought by this regime and not to back down until the demands presented are meet. Nigeria have enough resources to take care of everyone but the greed of capitalists and politicians in power won’t allow equitable distribution of our collective wealth.
“We call on Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to immediate commence general strikes to demand end to massacre, reversals of all anti poor policies. They have to present a plan of action, organise mass meetings where this plan is discussed with the rank and file, and assume determined action,” it added.
Expressing no hope for the nation under the Tinubu administration, the body said “the Tinubu reckless economic policies started on May 29, 2023 when he announced complete removal of subsidy. Labour leaders were unwilling to fight back.
“At 34% inflation rate, the 70,000 new minimum wage will not solve working peoples’ economic problems.
“Nigeria’s socio-economic and political crisis is deeply rooted in the system and its neo-liberal policies. It will remain unresolved until the labour movement and social movements come together to form a mass working political alternative for the labouring and suffering masses.”
The RSM called on workers, youth, socialists and human rights activists to come together to provide a socialist alternative to the present government in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, former Presidential spokesperson, Dr Doyin Okupe, says President Bola Tinubu has not disappointed Nigerians in his address to the nation on the nationwide protests on Sunday.
Okupe, a former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, made this remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, while reacting to the president’s broadcast.
“President Bola Tinubu’s speech has not disappointed Nigerians in that for the first time, the president clearly stated the daunting economic situation his administration met on ground at inception.
“He also amplified the strenuous efforts made by his government to reduce the prevailing crippling and stagnating debt servicing ratio from 97 per cent of earned revenue to 68 per cent.
“In truth, this has been the major cause of our present economic woes and sufferings.
“It is now self-evident that if the fuel subsidy was not removed, it would have been impossible for the government to function.
“And the government will not be able to meet its obligations, without continuing the profligacy of massive and sustained borrowing to fund the subsequent national budgets,” Okupe said.
According to him, the speech highlighted to Nigerians’ delight, the giant and commendable strides of achievements already accomplished by this administration within 14 months of its existence.
Okupe said: “Some of the most outstanding achievements of this administration, as contained in the speech, include “the more than doubling of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 per month.’’
He talked about Tinubu’s implementation and commitment of more than N45 billion to the students loan scheme and the raising of the national oil production capacity to more than 1.6 million barrels per day.
Okupe also highlighted the massive funding of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which, he said, were the engine of economic growth of any country.
He commended the president for the provision of billions of Naira directly targeted at relieving the current hardship on the poor as well as the massive funding of various youths developmental programmes and projects.
Okupe also applauded the Federal Government for the huge investment deployed toward infrastructure and agriculture.
He said: “It is also worthy to note from the speech the government’s commitment to reduce the prevailing high cost of living and also bring down the food inflation.
“This is through the temporary massive importation of foods and removal of tariffs and other import duties on foods, drugs and medical supplies, amongst others, for the next six months.
“I personally believe that this administration’s scorecard or performance compares very well if not better than those of many administrations before it.”
He said that the increased amount of funds that Tinubu’s administration had directly made available to the states and local governments must make Nigerians to look beyond the Federal Government.
Okupe said that Nigerians must make the sub-nationalities to be more accountable for the huge sum of revenue inflow they receive from the federation account and other Federal Government intervention funds.
“It is pertinent that we recognise that the Federal Government revenue is shared with 49 per cent going to the Federal Government while approximately 48 per cent goes to the states and local governments leaving some three per cent for ecological funds and derivation,” he said.
Okupe commended the president for recognising the rights of the Nigerian youths and indeed all citizens in general to protest.
He said: “It is also gratifying that the president publicly acknowledged that he has heard their demands loud and clear.’’
“I will therefore, with all humility enjoin our youths and the citizens at large to exercise patience and restraint and embrace the opportunity for dialogue which Mr President has offered.
“This long-awaited but endearing speech has rekindled our renewed hope for a brighter, better and prosperous future for all Nigerians.”
NAN reports that the president in his broadcast on Sunday on the nationwide protests reiterated his government’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by citizens.
The president enjoined the protesters and the organisers to suspend further protests and create room for dialogue, which he said he had always acceded to at the slightest opportunity.
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The protest, which started on Thursday, crippled socio-economic activities across states as motor parks, shops, malls, markets and roads were deserted.
The first day of the protest recorded violence and looting in some states like Niger, Kaduna, Jigawa, Abuja, amongst others.
The protest, planned to end on Aug. 10, is aimed at drawing the attention of the Federal Government to challenges faced by citizens.
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