As the #Badgovernance protest marks its fifth day, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has asserted that a new Nigeria is achievable if leaders address the people’s concerns with justice and equity.
Obi, responding to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national address on Sunday, expressed disappointment that the speech did not adequately address the issues sparking the protests.
In a Monday post on his X handle titled ‘My Response to the President’s Address,’ Obi stated:
“After leading the call for a presidential address to meet the people’s demands and reviewing the delayed speech, I took time to align my response with the general perception.
“I initially hesitated to respond, concerned it might be viewed as an attempt to sway public opinion, especially since I was previously accused of orchestrating the protest.
“Nonetheless, I thank the President for finally speaking to the nation, which may have prevented further unnecessary loss of innocent lives, including security personnel.
“While I hoped the President would also show empathy towards those injured, arrested, or detained due to excessive and unprofessional conduct by some security forces, this was not the case. The government must identify and act against criminal elements disrupting the protest and protect those exercising their democratic rights.
“Nigeria must fully embrace democratic principles, including the right to protest, without selective enforcement. I also appreciate the President’s condemnation of ethnic bigotry but had hoped for more decisive actions, such as arresting and prosecuting those responsible for intolerance.
“The President’s address seemed disconnected from the realities faced by the people and failed to address the core issues that ignited the protests. It either reflects a lack of awareness among his advisers or a deliberate choice to ignore these concerns. I urge the President to distance himself from sycophants and surround himself with honest advisors.
“While the President focused on past issues, the people are concerned with current and future challenges. Immediate action is needed on critical issues like high governance costs, corruption, the high cost of living, and effective allocation of resources to health, education, and poverty alleviation. I reiterate the need for a war on insecurity, corruption, the economy, poverty, unemployment, and the power sector.
“Persistent corruption and mismanagement of public funds must be tackled decisively. Regular briefings, whether quarterly or biannually, are essential to communicate measurable actions being taken to revive the nation, restore hope, and rebuild trust.
“I also request that the President minimize the repetition of the dire situation; Nigerians are already well aware of the problems. The expectation is not for the President to solve everything overnight, but for a concerted effort to address the mismanagement of public resources, reduce governance costs, and tackle key issues to set the country on a path to recovery and growth. A new Nigeria is possible,” he concluded.
