Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, former National Publicity Secretary of the now-defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and a prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed strong disapproval of President Bola Tinubu’s recent address regarding the widespread protests against hunger and poor governance in Nigeria.
Eze characterized the President’s remarks as superficial and significantly disconnected from the pressing issues that have incited these nationwide demonstrations.
In a statement released to the press, Eze articulated that the Nigerian populace would have preferred a more substantive discourse from the President, particularly regarding the policy direction of his administration in tackling the legitimate grievances of citizens. These grievances include the exorbitant expenses associated with public office operations and the extravagant lifestyles of government officials.
“The President’s address failed to address fundamental problems that hinder the progress of our nation and its citizens, such as the excessive cost of governance, rampant corruption, judicial misconduct, a compromised electoral system, widespread hunger, unemployment, the adverse effects of fuel subsidy removal, armed banditry, and overall insecurity, as well as the rising cost of living. Consequently, the broadcast appears to undermine the essence of the ongoing protests and lacks depth,” Eze stated.
Eze further conveyed his disappointment regarding the President’s seemingly dismissive approach to the critical situation unfolding across the nation, which he attributes to Tinubu’s incompetence. He asserted that the President has distanced himself from the foundational principles of the APC, a party established with the vision of fostering a united and prosperous Nigeria.
As a former spokesperson for the nPDP and a member of the APC Media Legacy Project Committee, Eze emphasized, “It is imperative to clarify that the current trajectory under Tinubu does not align with the aspirations of the APC that many of us risked our lives to establish. We did not envision the APC as a vehicle to confront Nigerians with the level of hunger that drives citizens to contemplate suicide as a means of escaping their dire circumstances.”
