By Mercy Ojo-Ehinmodu
The 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has reacted to President Bola Tinubu’s speech, following the end bad governance protest that began August 1st, 2024.
Obi on X, reiterated the need for the President to declare war on insecurity, economy, poverty, unemployment, and the power sector.
“Also, the persistent issues of corruption and mismanagement of public funds must be addressed decisively. As is done in other nations during such times”
Peter Obi stated that regular briefings quarterly or biannually, from the President are essential to clearly communicate visible and verifiable measures being taken to revive the nation from current hopelessness state, restore hope, and rebuild trust in the country.
According to Obi, “the President’s speech regrettably, focused on the past, while the people are concerned with the present and the future. As it appeared to be disconnected from the harsh realities faced by the people and failed to address critical issues that initially triggered the protest.
“It either reflects a lack of awareness among his advisers regarding the scale of anger, hunger, and hardship in the country, or a deliberate choice to disregard it”.
He further highlighted that While he had hoped that, in consoling the families of those who lost their loved ones in the protest, he would also show some empathy towards those who were injured, arrested, detained due to the overzealous and unprofessional conduct of some security personnel.
Peter Obi further stated that it is the responsibility of the government to identify criminal elements attempting to disrupt the protest through looting and other unlawful behaviours and to protect those genuinely exercising their democratic rights.
He said, “Nigeria must embrace all tenets of democracy, including the right to protest, without selective adherence”.
Notwithstanding, he had hoped for more decisive action, such as the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible, to demonstrate that such intolerance will not be tolerated in today’s Nigeria.
Meanwhile, in his speech on Sunday, the President, Tinubu pained by the loss of lives during this ongoing nationwide protests while enjoined the protesters to suspend it and create room for dialogues.
Tinubu said as the President of this country, he must ensure public order in line with his constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, adding that his govt will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.
He stated that Nigeria requires all hands to be on deck, needs each other regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping the people’s destiny as a nation.
“To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build”, the President speaks tough.