Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has dismissed Sunday’s national broadcast by President Bola Tinubu as hollow and failing to address the demands of protesters on pressing economic hardship.
In his reaction to the address, Atiku said in a statement issued by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, that it lacked credibility and failed to offer any immediate, tangible solutions to Nigerians’ problems.
He argued that President Tinubu was expected to present groundbreaking reforms, particularly those aimed at reducing cost of governance.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election observed that the address offered a superficial account of his so-called reforms, revealing the president’s own tenuous grasp of policy as he failed to convince his audience.
The former vice president stated: “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.
“His speech neglects the pressing economic hardships that have besieged Nigerian families since the very beginning of his tenure.
“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.”
The former main opposition flag bearer tasked President Tinubu to own up to the failures of his administration since inception rather than accuse the opposition of being behind the protest.
He added: “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.
“The opposition did not create the economic quagmire we find ourselves in; this disaster is solely the result of the Tinubu administration’s trial-and-error policies. It is high time they stopped the blame game and faced the reality of their failures.”
