On Monday, activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent speech, saying it worsened the situation for many Nigerians. Idam argued that Tinubu failed to address the real issues that sparked the ongoing EndBadGovernance protests.
Idam, a constitutional lawyer, in an interview with journalists, talked about his disappointment with Tinubu’s address. He claimed that instead of addressing the root causes of the protests, Tinubu focused on listing his achievements, which he believes were inadequate and did not address the real concerns of the protesters.
Since Thursday, Nigerians have been actively protesting against various problems they are facing. The demonstrations, part of the #EndBadGovernance movement, are driven by widespread frustration over several key issues. Protesters are demanding a return of fuel subsidies, improvements in living standards, reductions in the cost of governance, lower electricity tariffs, and solutions to the growing problem of insecurity, among other demands.
In his Sunday address, President Tinubu expressed his disapproval of the protests, suggesting that they were being driven by his political opponents. However, Idam criticized Tinubu’s response, stating that it failed to acknowledge or address the serious problems that prompted the protests in the first place. According to Idam, the President’s speech merely highlighted his achievements, which many Nigerians see as unimpressive and insufficient in addressing their grievances.
Idam suggested that Tinubu might need to make another address to better connect with the concerns of the Nigerian people. He recommended that the President either make a new video or deliver a live broadcast that directly tackles critical issues such as the food crisis, high fuel prices, and the devaluation of the Naira. Idam emphasized that the current address made things seem even more hopeless for Nigerians and criticized it for not effectively addressing the pressing problems.
Idam also pointed out that Tinubu’s speech showed a lack of understanding of the true nature of the protests. He accused the President’s advisers of misleading him into thinking that the protests were merely politically motivated, rather than being driven by genuine public discontent. This, according to Idam, reflects a disconnect between the President and the real issues facing ordinary Nigerians.
Overall, Idam believes that Tinubu has the opportunity to do better. He urged the President to directly address issues affecting the country, as the current approach has not helped alleviate the growing frustration among Nigerians.
As the protests continue, the expectation is for the government to respond more constructively and address the legitimate concerns of the people. The President’s ability to effectively engage with these issues will be crucial in determining how the situation evolves and whether the demands of the protesters will be met.
