Samson Itodo, the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent address to the nation, stating that the speech did not adequately address the concerns of the protesters.
Following the #EndBadGovernance protests against hunger and poverty in Nigeria, President Tinubu delivered a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, calling for calm and reaffirming his stance on policies, including the removal of the fuel subsidy. However, Itodo, speaking on Channels Television’s *Sunday Politics*, argued that the President missed a crucial opportunity to respond to the protesters’ demands.
“There was excitement when it was announced that the President would speak to the Nigerian people, who have entrusted him with power,” Itodo said. “However, his speech was a missed opportunity to directly address the key issues raised by the protesters, such as reducing the cost of governance, implementing constitutional reforms, and addressing the rising cost of living.”
Similarly, Dumebi Kachikwu, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also criticized the President’s address. Kachikwu argued that the speech did not reflect the current situation in Nigeria, where at least 19 people died during the protests, and numerous businesses were forced to close.
“It’s clear that his speechwriters aimed to evoke emotions rather than address the realities of our situation as Nigerians,” Kachikwu said. “There’s a distinction between a written speech and its delivery. I didn’t see in the President’s demeanor the concern or urgency one would expect after losing 19 citizens to violent protests and the widespread business shutdowns. It felt more like a reading of a prepared speech than a genuine response to the crisis.”