3 months ago
4
In the wake of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast on Sunday, Bauchi residents have said the speech failed to address the protesters’ key demands.
Expressing their displeasure, the residents said despite considering a temporary suspension of the protests due to rising hoodlum activities, the president ‘s speech lacks substantive solutions, adding that it’s ‘empty and inspiring ‘
Speaking in an interview with select journalists in Bauchi on Monday , the immediate past Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Bauchi and a member, NBA Human Rights Institute, Abuja, Jibrin Jibrin Esq , said “Like most NIgerians and other discerning minds, President Bola Tinubu’s speech has not measured up to expectations, especially considering the level of hardship and suffering in the land.”
According to him, “To my mind, the President merely outlined the measures his administration has taken so far to address the problems being faced by the majority of the citizens which are direct consequences of his policies in the financial and economic sectors without answering the question if the people can endure the situation any longer.”
He added that,”In essence, I would like to think that the speech did little to inspire hope in the people and to put it bluntly, it is like he has not said anything at all.”
Similarly, the team leader of the Bauchi North zone, Isah Zaki, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest, while expressing his disappointment in an interview with DAILY POST, said Tinubu’s broadcast failed to address the protesters’ agitations.
He said the president’s broadcast did not mention any solutions to the demands of the poor masses.
“The only reason we are considering the relaxation of the protest in Bauchi North follows hoodlum activities during the protest which have done more harm to our businessmen.”
“The broadcast did not, of course, address our demands and that of poor masses but we have decided to listen to Mr president considering the unfortunate activities of hoodlums in parts of the protest.
Zaki added “In the event where the dialogue did work, we all called on our national assembly representatives to do the needful.”
Also, a Social Analyst and Senior Lecturer in Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Abdullahi Yalwa in an interview with DAILY POST described the broadcast as empty, adding that it may provoke more protest instead of resolving the issue as was expected of it.
Yalwa said the reason for the protest has not been addressed, describing it as full of pride and success stories known only or understood by the government.
According to him, “The justification of fuel subsidy removal is the worst part of the speech with still no concrete plan to handle its consequences.”
The Don added that, “The speech summarily exposes that Nigerians are not carried along in either policy formulation or execution. This suggests that the Government and the Governed are operating in parallel direction.”
English (US) ·