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Mixed Reactions Trail Tinubu’s Address To #EndBadGovernance Protesters, Nigerians

Published

3 months ago

August 5, 2024

Admin

President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide address on Sunday, August 4, 2024, has elicited mixed reactions.

The address tackled the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests and outlined his administration’s response to the nation’s pressing challenges.

However, the President’s address has received mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media.

On X, Olagunju Oladele (#TechInitiative) noted that the President’s address focused on his achievements rather than addressing the issues.

He said, “President Tinubu’s speech was more focused on highlighting his achievements and broader initiatives rather than directly addressing the specific demands of the protesters. I understand it’s an attempt to showcase progress and build trust, but it still fails to understand his people.”

Similarly, Aliyu Tanimu, with the username #IamAliyu_Tee, said that while Tinubu condemned violence in his speech, he chose to ignore the root causes of the unrest.

“President Tinubu’s speech acknowledges protests but falls short in empathising with the masses’ grievances. He condemns violence yet ignores the root causes of unrest.

“His focus on economic reforms and achievements seems tone-deaf amidst widespread suffering,” he posted.

Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2022 general election, Omoyele Sowore, in a quoted post to the address on X, called it “Beautiful Nonsense.”

Sowore had posted the speech hours earlier on his page before the President made the broadcast.

This sparked diverse reactions from Nigerians who demanded to know why it was “leaked,” with some suggesting that Tinubu’s media aide be sanctioned.

Sowore, via his official handle #yelesowore, posted, “#officialABAT Much Ado About Nothing Speech to be delivered as a continuation of the 2023 election campaign.

CAMPAIGN AFTER ELECTION! #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria revolt continues until we win! #RevolutionNow #DaysOfRage.”

Another X user, #Mr_Teekay001, regarded the address as a threat.

He wrote, “Did anyone else sense he issued a threat in his address? He’s just talking about abstract achievements that won’t materialise anytime soon. It’s frustrating to hear promises without any concrete plans or timelines for implementation. Such statements only serve to increase scepticism and erode public trust. #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.”

Another user, Changing Narratives with the username #xtianareal, wrote, “President Tinubu succeeded in inspiring all who’d been chilling at home to join the

#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest by Monday.

“His scriptwriters don’t learn at all, pushing propaganda instead of addressing issues. Since they’re so out of touch with reality, it will hit them soon.”

Conversely, Omogbolahan, #GbolahanAkinwum, wrote, “A summary of President Tinubu’s address regarding the elimination of fuel subsidies and implementation of a uniform exchange rate, among other topics relevant to the current protests, emphasising that although challenging, these measures will ultimately prevent future difficulties.”

An X user, #Imran_Khan0855, stressed the non-reversal of subsidy removal.

He said, “In summary, President Tinubu contradicted himself. He won’t reverse his decision on the fuel subsidy, but he is asking us to embrace dialogue. Dialogue on what exactly? He has no plans to listen to Nigerians. He should’ve just kept quiet and continued with his agenda.”

In his view, GOOD MAN (#Ezinwa_Maduka) said, “President Tinubu is an unrepentant tyrant. His speech is nothing but insults and blackmail against the Nigerian people, addressing nothing but grandstanding over his failed policies, unwilling to take responsibility for more than 40 persons killed by his government in three days.”

From Facebook, Ayekooto Akindele wrote, “My condolences to all fuel subsidarians across the nation. May God grant you the fortitude to bear this irrevocable loss.

“Don’t allow your livelihood to rely entirely on awoof from CBN or NNPC because you don’t know when your Tinubu will arrive! Get decent work!”

Reacting, Oluwafisayomi Oyeyemi, #Realzaddylion, posted, “If you are a supporter of this APC, jokes aside you need to be ashamed of yourself seriously. These people are disgracing you.”

However, in a show of support, another X user, #Olai_Yus, said Tinubu had shown good prospects to improve the standard of living so far.

“Patience is the missing ingredient and with a little more time. We’ll get it right. Rome wasn’t built in a day. With the policies and reforms seen so far, I know Tinubu is making headway.”

PUNCH Online reports that a major protest erupted on Thursday, 1st August, across Nigeria, driven by public dissatisfaction with current economic and social conditions.

Demonstrators voiced their frustrations nationwide, calling for reforms and greater accountability.

Earlier, President Bola Tinubu appealed for patience with his policies and urged citizens not to let hoodlums exploit the unrest.

The protest underscored the nation’s desire for change while highlighting the need for peaceful and constructive dialogue.

News

Change Negative Narrative About EFCC Being Used For Settling Political Scores- Reps

Published

1 hour ago

November 12, 2024

Austin Ojomah

………Ask Anti Graft Agency To Fight Financial Crimes Within Established Laws

.
……My Staff Are Poorly Paid, EFCC

…., States Why Fight Against Yahoo Boys Fierce

The House of Representatives has tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to purge itself from the negative impression that its being used to settle political scores and concentrate fighting financial and economic crimes within established laws.

The House handed the advise on Tuesday through the Chairman House Committee on Financial Crimes Honorable Ginger Onwusibe who led members of the committee on the 2024 oversight exercise on the commission.

The oversight covered extensive facility tour of departments and critical operational units of the antigraft agency.

In his terse remarks, Hon. Onwusibe challenged the agency to improve its operational activities in combating economic and financial crimes by complying with its 2004 Establishment Act and other relevant applicable laws like the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: Terrorism ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022: The Proceeds of Crime Act. 2022, as well as other statutes, that compels it to carry out these roles transparently with accountability and show that the negative maxim being peddled in some quarters that the agency is often being used for settling political scores is incorrect .

The committee assured that it will collaborate with the commission to actualize its mandate by enacting new laws or amending old ones and as well providing budgetary interventions, if it must strive tirelessly to be on top of its challenges

The House urged the agency to collaborate with sister agencies and desist from keeping suspects as- awaiting ‘trial in correctional centres nationwide

“At this point let me add that a recent visit to the Maximun and Minimun Correctional centres in Kirikiri Lagos State, numerous suspects have been awaiting trial for over one year and yet we are all acquainted with the saying that justice delayed is justice denied”

” It is on this note that we call on the EFCC, Attorney General of the Federation and the Judiciary to improve and ensure the administration of justice works and is efficiently delivered to the victims”

The House warned the agency to purge itself of rotten eggs in order to fight economic and financial crimes frontally, thereby stimulating the Nigerian economy

It also urged EFCC to focus properly on its mandate.

” The issue of appropriate and proper focusing on the mandate of the EFCC must relentlessly be on the front burner:

“Orders from competent courts , arrest and debt recovery must be pursued religiously” the House cautioned

But on its side, the antigraft agency said it has not deviated from its focus but rather working hard and fighting financial and economic crimes as enunciated in its mandate.

Chairman of the agency , Ola Olukeyede told his guest in his remarks during the oversight visit that the commission was doing much to fight financial and economic crimes and stimulate the Nigerian economy

He said so far that the agency has recovered over N250bn cash, tens of million of Dollars and other foreign currencies, with over 3000 convictions: 17000 petitions while also investigating over 20000,with about 4000 fresh cases , all being handled by a misery number of staff strenght

He noted that its priority is to improve the country’s image and stimulate its economy, such that there could be improvement in foregin direct investments and stimulation of the local economy.
Olukeyede however, argued that the agency needed more staff strenght, funding , better renumeration for staff because they were poorly paid. He also emphasised on modern day technology to fight the ever dynamic cyber criminals

According to the EFCC boss, it was important to give more salary to EFCC staff and deploy modern technology to fight emerging cyber crime dynamism . He expalined that the agency has increased efforts to fight Yahoo, yahhoo, boys because of their ability to crumble any economy within a twinkle of an eye

According to him, the agency was expanding its drag net to focus on ministries, departments and agencies infrastructural projects. ” “Go to MDAs and see their budget implementstion. It is not up to 20%”

“We want to ensure 50% infrastructural development” the anti graft boss announced, insisting that it would henceforth encourage monitoring of project implementation which was an aspect of preventing financial crimes

He said the agency has dismissed lots of erring staff, and will continue to dismiss and even prosecute them going forward.

Olukeyede disclosed that it had designed a template on staff integrity, using the Gift- Policy model

.” It is not every thankful gift we should collect” the EFCC boss warned

” I am advocating for more welfare improvement, better welfare, he said.

“We will do more recoveries, more convictions, but we need more resources to do our work, maintaining that, that was his stand on ethics and integrity .

Olokeyede’s demand for more salary wage for staff of the commission, is seen as an incentive to boost welfare and morale to fight financial crimes to standstill.

He stated that there was the utmost need to increase salaries of staff of the commission

The EFCC boss who spoke on his stewardship in the last one year, further added that it increased the war against Yahoo- Yahoo boys because of the consequences of their nefarious acts which could crumble a nation’s economy in a jiffy.

He argued that more technology was required to fight financial crimes.

For instance he explained that it was a common scenario then for thieves and armed robbers to attack and break into banks with guns and Dynamites

” But it is the same common and more easier scenario and task now to have Yahoo-Yahoo boys and bank thieves attack banks with technology in the comfort of their homes or hideouts”

“So we need technology and we also need to increase our fight against these Yahoo boys who can dismantle any economy within a twinkle of an eye

He called on the national Assembly to improve and increase its finances because fighting Financial crimes was a herculean task that requires adequate funding

Olokeyede who apparently was responding to criticisms of the commission’s over concentration on Cyber crimes/ thieves, perpetrated by Yahoo boys, said he has made tremendous impact in enforcement, investigation and conviction with an outstanding record convictions between October 2023 when he was appointed till date

News

Trouble looming for Obaseki as Gov Okpebholo orders probe of his admin

Published

3 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has ordered the setting up of a committee to probe the immediate-past administration of Godwin Obaseki for its failure to inaugurate 14 Edo Assembly lawmakers-elect into the 7th Assembly.

Okpebholo disclosed this while giving his inaugural speech as the new governor of the state.

Governor Okpebholo also ordered the State Chief Judge to immediately investigate the initial delay of former Governor Obaseki to inaugurate duly-cleared judges by the National Judicial Council (NJC) last year

News

Naira may depreciate to N1,993 against dollar – Report

Published

3 hours ago

November 12, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Nigeria’s naira has been projected to depreciate further to N1,993 per dollar in the coming days.

This is according to BMI, a Fitch Solutions subsidiary report title, ‘Weak Naira and Structural Challenges to Constrain Nigeria’s Medical Devices Market Growth’.

The report said the forecasted depreciation will be predicated on the 95 percent dependence on imports for pharmaceuticals in Nigeria.

According to the report, the development would erode both the health system and patient purchasing power.

“We expect that the naira will end 2028 at N1,993/$ from N306/$ in 2018.

“As the naira weakens, the cost of importing medical devices will continually increase, eroding both the health system and patient purchasing power, especially to invest in essential medical technologies given the underfunding of the public health sector,” the report stated.

This comes as Naira fell to N1681.42 and N1735 at the official and parallel foreign exchange markets on Monday.

This comes as FMDQ FX transaction turnover dropped significantly from $1.4 billion on Friday to $471.5 million on Monday.

Last Thursday, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, said the country’s external reserves rose to $40 billion.

Despite Central Bank of Nigeria’s interventions and external reserves rise in the last months, the naira has continued to experience fluctuations in the FX market.