Hunger Protest: President Tinubu’s Speech Brought No Succour – Nigerians

Last Sunday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed Nigerians as part of measures to end the nationwide EndBadGovernance protest. Thousands of Nigerians have been protesting across the nation since August 1 against the high cost of living. Prices of staples such as rice, bread, beans, and yam have jumped by more than 100 percent in one year.

In the nationwide broadcast, President Tinubu said he was working hard for Nigerians, and the results will soon be visible and concrete for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy. The President said he had heard the yearnings and concerns of Nigerians loud and clear and that he understands the pain and frustration that drive the protests, assuring that his administration is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of the citizens.

However, there is the feeling that he did not address the specific demands of the protesters, a reason attributed to the refusal of the organizers to end the action.

Ordinary Nigerians, who spoke to National Reports, expressed divergent views about the broadcast.

Peter Owoicho from Lagos said the President sounded threatening in his address. He said, “Did anyone else sense he issued a threat in his address? “Imagine the President saying during his broadcast that ‘I must ensure public order. In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.’ This kind of statement is not right at all.

“He just talked about abstract achievements that won’t materialize anytime soon. “It’s frustrating to hear promises without any concrete plans or timelines for implementation. Such statements only serve to increase skepticism and erode public trust.”

According to Michael Divine Akor from Abuja, the President’s speech came very late after the protesters had given him enough time. He said he expected the President to have been proactive enough to address the salient issues the youths had raised before the commencement of the protest.

“The speech given by the President, His Excellency Ahmed Bola Tinubu came very late. “The protesters gave him an adequate time frame before the commencement of the protest. “In a sane society, it’s expected that Mr President should have addressed the salient issues raised by the protesters, cum citizens to discourage them from proceeding with the protest, but he kept mute until the protest had kicked off and wrecked some damage on the nation,” he said.

Another youth, Anthony Ameh from Abuja said the speech failed to provide solutions to the yearnings and aspirations of the masses, who before now have been in abject penury since the coming on board of the present administration in May 29, 2023.

He said, “To me, the speech didn’t convey solutions to the real yearning and pains of the masses who have been gripped by excruciating pains and hunger since Tinubu took over the baton. “The protesters are agitating for immediate measures to ameliorate the unbearable pains and high cost of living by reversing some strangulating policies introduced by His Excellency, but the speech only conveyed solutions that will take decades to yield results if at all they will.

Uchechi Emeka from Onitsha, Anambra State, faulted the President for describing the protest as a politically masterminded exercise sponsored by his political enemies.

Prince Archibong from Akwa-ibom berated the President for hailing his effort to increase the national minimum wage, arguing that only a small segment of Nigeria, who are government employees, are beneficiaries.

Eche Peter from Benue said he expected the President to speak against the high price of commodities in the market and proffer a lasting solution to ease the pains of the ordinary Nigerians but he never did that.

Nafisat Abubakar from Nasarawa slammed the speech, saying the writer did not learn anything but pushing propaganda.

“His scriptwriters don’t learn at all, pushing propaganda instead of addressing issues. “They’re so out of touch with reality. I wonder when things will go right in this country. When it’s favoring you, you call it connection but when the other way around, you call it corruption. May God help us in this country,” she prayed.