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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s speech to the #EndBadGovernance protesters, calling it hollow and inadequate in addressing the suffering of Nigerians.

As economic hardships intensify, many Nigerians are finding it difficult to afford basic necessities.

In response to these conditions, youths initiated protests on Thursday, which have continued into Saturday, in cities like Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, and other regions, demanding an end to hunger and poor governance.

In his response, President Tinubu, during a Sunday broadcast, urged the protesters to cease their demonstrations.

He explained that his decision to remove the fuel subsidy and unify the foreign exchange systems was necessary to eliminate the exploitation by smugglers and rent-seekers.

Tinubu added that this move also stopped the unjust subsidies benefiting neighbouring countries at the expense of Nigerians, which had severely weakened the nation’s economy.

He emphasized that the Nigerian economy had been stagnant for decades due to numerous misalignments that hindered its growth.

Tinubu said, “Just over a year ago, our dear country, Nigeria, reached a point where we couldn’t afford to continue using temporary solutions to solve long-term problems for the sake of now and our unborn generations.

These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve us well.

“Yes, I agree, the buck stops with me. But I can assure you that I am fully focused on delivering governance to the people – good governance, for that matter.”

In a statement on Sunday, Atiku pointed out that President Tinubu’s broadcast overlooks the severe economic challenges that Nigerian families have faced since the start of his administration

He stated, “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 lacklustre 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, nay Nigerians dwindling confidence in this administration.”