Aluu Vincent
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent address to the nation, in the wake of widespread protests and unrest, has been widely criticized for its emptiness and lack of substance. The President’s speech failed to address the core demands of the protesters, leaving many feeling frustrated and disillusioned.
For the avoidance of doubt the demands of the protesters are
1. Immediate resignation of corrupt government officials
2. Reduction in government officials’ salaries and benefits
3. Increased funding for education and healthcare
4. Implementation of electoral reforms to ensure free and fair elections
5. Accountability for mismanaged funds and resources
6. Immediate action to address insecurity and poverty
7. Constitutional reforms to ensure true federalism and devolution of power
8. Transparency and accountability in government dealings
Instead of tackling the pressing issues head-on, the President went on a wild goose chase, embarking on a window-shopping exercise, listing his government’s supposed achievements. He touted initiatives and projects that have not yielded tangible results or improved the lives of Nigerians. These so-called efforts have not addressed the core issues of:
– Hunger: Despite claims of food production initiatives, many Nigerians still struggle to access nutritious food.
– Unemployment: The administration’s job creation claims have not translated to real opportunities for the masses.
– Poverty: The government’s poverty alleviation programs have been ineffective in lifting people out of poverty.
– Spiraling inflation: The administration’s economic policies have failed to curb inflation, which has rubbished the purchasing power of the people.
The President’s speech was a masterclass in obfuscation, attempting to divert attention from the real issues. His government operates in a Nigeria that is different from the one ordinary citizens experience daily. They are oblivious to the suffering, the desperation, and the hopelessness that have become the lot of many Nigerians.
CHINUA Achebe must have been right when he muttered that the trouble with Nigeria was that of leadership; the inability of leaders to rise above personal examples. Over time we seen elected leaders completely alienated from the people who elected them. These people criss cross 7 seas and 7 rivers to canvass for votes. Once they get what they want, they forget the people and start behaving like demigods with multiple lives. They start driving in tinted bullet proof cars with heavy security guards. They get holed up in their offices and speak to the people through surrogates. These surrogates become middlemen between the elected leaders and the people. The leaders are only told what they want to hear, that all is well with the people and that the people are happy.
Since coming on board President Tinubu has shown ineptitude, cluelessness and seems lost and missing in the act of governance. His half baked policies and programmes have foisted on Nigerians the worst economic crisis leading to gnashing of teeth. Within one year, inflation rose 40%, unemployment rose to 40%, 35 million people slid into multidimensional poverty. Hunger has become the norm as flood inflation has hit rooftop while purchasing power has hit the heavenlies. All these has not stopped the government from living ostentatiously and feeding fat from our commonwealth while the people die of penury. The end result is the end bad governance protest.
In conclusion, President Tinubu’s address was a disappointing and unconvincing attempt to placate the protesters and the Nigerian people. His government’s continued alienation from the reality on the ground and its failure to address the people’s demands will only exacerbate the crisis and further erode trust in the administration. The President must come down from his ivory tower and confront the harsh realities faced by Nigerians. There is hunger, poverty and despair in town.
