The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent speech delivered in response to the #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria. Atiku claims that Tinubu’s speech failed to address the protesters’ demands or convince Nigerians of his administration’s competence.
Atiku’s statement, released by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, criticized the President’s speech as lacking substance and failing to inspire confidence among Nigerians amidst ongoing economic hardships. Atiku also pointed out that the speech was prematurely leaked, further indicating the declining confidence in Tinubu’s administration.
Atiku emphasized that the current economic crisis is the responsibility of Tinubu’s government and urged the administration to focus on providing solutions rather than blaming past governments and opposition parties. His full statement reads:
“President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast this morning, intended to quell the fervor of public protests against his administration’s poor governance, utterly misses the mark. His speech neglects the pressing economic hardships that have besieged Nigerian families since the very beginning of his tenure.
This address lacks credibility and fails 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 lackluster 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.
We urge the President 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. 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 and 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.”
Atiku’s strong rebuke underscores the growing dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s leadership and the pressing need for effective governance solutions to address Nigeria’s economic challenges.
