Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has criticized the Federal Government’s response to the nationwide hunger protests known as #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.
Obi expressed disappointment in a series of tweets on Monday, calling on President Bola Tinubu to “distance himself from sycophants and surround himself with individuals who will present the unvarnished truth.”
The protests, which have taken place across the country, demand action on issues such as the high cost of governance, corruption, rising living expenses, and fuel subsidies.
In a national broadcast on Sunday, President Tinubu urged dialogue and called for an end to the protests, stating his administration is prepared to listen and respond to the protesters’ concerns. He claimed to have heard their calls “loud and clear.”
Despite this, protests have persisted in major cities including Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna.
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Obi criticized Tinubu’s address as “regrettably 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 suggested that to effectively engage the public with his administration’s economic plans, the president should hold “regular briefings, whether quarterly or biannually,” as seen in other countries facing similar challenges.
While acknowledging the president’s late address, which Obi said could have potentially prevented further loss of lives, including those of security personnel, Obi stated that citizens do not expect immediate solutions to the nation’s problems.
However, he emphasized that Tinubu is expected to “address the mismanagement of public resources, reduce the high cost of governance, and tackle issues like insecurity,” among other pressing concerns.
Obi also urged the government to “identify criminal elements attempting to disrupt the protest through looting and other unlawful behaviors and to protect those genuinely exercising their democratic rights.”
In his tweets, Obi noted he had delayed his response to avoid the perception that he was attempting to sway public opinion, especially since he had been initially accused of sponsoring the protests.
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