Mr. Jackson Ude, former Director of Strategy and Communication under President Goodluck Jonathan, has expressed serious concerns regarding President Bola Tinubu’s recent nationwide address concerning the ongoing protests against poor governance and escalating hardships in Nigeria.
These protests, which began on August 1st, 2024, have been marred by ineffective management from security forces, with reports indicating that nearly 24 individuals were killed by armed state agents.
In light of the widespread outrage directed at security personnel for their conduct during the crisis, President Tinubu delivered a broadcast on Sunday.
Writing from the United States, Ude characterized the President’s remarks as indicative of a leader who is disconnected from the struggles of his citizens.
He stated, “President Bola Tinubu’s address reveals his insensitivity and disconnection from the populace. His speech was devoid of compassion and failed to tackle pressing issues such as his oversized government, rampant corruption, hunger, unemployment, and the pervasive insecurity affecting the nation.”
Ude criticized the way the Federal Government approached the removal of the petroleum subsidy, claiming the measures intended to alleviate the resulting hardships have not effectively addressed the challenges faced by many Nigerians.
“The hasty removal of the fuel subsidy has inflicted immense suffering on countless Nigerians. The palliative measures introduced have largely been co-opted by politicians and middlemen, leaving the original issues unresolved and the void created by subsidy removal unfilled.”
He added, “The President rushed into announcing the elimination of oil subsidies during his inauguration without a coherent plan to mitigate its impact on the citizens. This premature declaration has led to the hardships currently endured by Nigerians.”
“This is a core reason behind the protests. Instead of seeking common ground to resolve these issues or temporarily reinstating subsidies while preparing appropriate strategies, he chose to address the nation amidst the unrest, offering no tangible solutions.”
Ude also criticized Tinubu’s lack of commitment to reducing the cost of governance, commenting, “The President has shown no inclination to address calls for downsizing his administration. The bloated nature of his government drains a significant portion of the nation’s resources.”
“While Nigerians suffer from poverty and hunger, the President, along with his cabinet and aides, continues to live in comfort. This situation is simply unacceptable.”
