The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s address to Nigerians on Sunday, stating it failed to address the core demands of the people. In a statement on Monday via his verified X handle, Obi expressed disappointment in the president’s speech, highlighting its lack of empathy towards those injured, arrested, and detained during the protests. He also noted the president’s failure to take decisive action against ethnic bigotry and to address the critical issues that triggered the protests.
Obi advised the president to distance himself from sycophants and surround himself with individuals who would present the unvarnished truth. He urged Tinubu to focus on pressing issues such as the high cost of governance, corruption, the high cost of living, and poverty alleviation.
In his statement, Obi acknowledged the president for finally addressing the people, though he deemed it belated and insufficient to prevent the unnecessary loss of innocent lives, including those of security agents. Obi criticized the president for not showing empathy towards those affected by the overzealous conduct of some security operatives and emphasized the government’s responsibility to protect those exercising their democratic rights.
Obi appreciated Tinubu’s condemnation of ethnic bigotry but called for more decisive action, such as the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible. He expressed concern that the president’s address appeared disconnected from the harsh realities faced by the people, suggesting either a lack of awareness among Tinubu’s advisers or a deliberate disregard for the nation’s suffering.
Obi stressed the importance of addressing the high cost of governance, corruption, and the high cost of living while directing resources effectively towards critical areas like health, education, and poverty alleviation. He urged the president to declare a war on insecurity, the economy, poverty, unemployment, and the power sector, and to provide regular briefings to communicate visible and verifiable measures being taken to revive the nation.
Obi concluded by reminding the president that while Nigerians do not expect immediate solutions, they do expect concerted efforts to address mismanagement, reduce the high cost of governance, and tackle pressing issues to set the country on a path to recovery and growth. He called for actions that would restore hope and rekindle the people’s faith in Nigeria.
“A new Nigeria is Possible,” Obi affirmed.