Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have sharply criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent broadcast, describing it as lacking substance and failing to address the pressing issues of hardship and poverty that have spurred nationwide protests.
In a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku Abubakar expressed disappointment in the president’s speech, stating, “President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast this morning, intended to quell the fervour of public protests against his administration’s poor governance, utterly misses the mark.” He argued that the address did not provide immediate, tangible solutions to the pressing needs of Nigerians, failing to announce any significant reforms aimed at reducing the high costs of governance.
Atiku criticized the speech for ignoring the protesters’ key demands, such as suspending the purchase of new aircraft for the president, reducing the size of the cabinet, and eliminating the office of the First Lady. He called the speech “lacklustre” and accused President Tinubu of offering only superficial accounts of his reforms, showing a weak grasp of policy and failing to respect the sentiments of the protesters.
He further urged the president and his administration to acknowledge their failures over the past 14 months and to stop blaming the opposition for the current economic crisis, which he attributed to the administration’s ineffective policies. Atiku emphasized that the premature leak of the president’s speech underscored the diminishing confidence in the administration.
The PDP echoed Atiku’s sentiments, stating that Tinubu’s speech confirmed the administration’s insensitivity towards the precarious situation in the country. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, expressed disappointment that the speech failed to provide concrete measures to alleviate the severe economic hardship faced by Nigerians. He noted that the address did not include any steps to reduce the price of petroleum products, stabilize the naira, or provide immediate food relief.
The PDP also condemned the absence of any directive for an investigation into the brutal killings of unarmed protesters by security operatives, highlighting a disregard for the fundamental duties of government to ensure protection, security, and welfare of its citizens. The party criticized the speech for focusing on self-praise and claims of achievements rather than addressing the real issues affecting Nigerians.
Ologunagba stated, “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.” He added that the speech only reinforced public apprehension about the APC’s lack of empathy and responsiveness to the suffering and pain of millions of Nigerians, especially the youth, whose hopes and aspirations are being dashed by the current administration.
In summary, Atiku Abubakar and the PDP have called for a more genuine and effective approach from the government to address the urgent needs of the Nigerian people, urging President Tinubu to abandon blame tactics and take concrete actions to mitigate the economic hardships facing the nation.