The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has thanked President Bola Tinubu for finally addressing the nation amid the ongoing #EndBadGovernmenttInNigeria protests, which entered its 5th day today.
Tinubu, during his nationwide address on Sunday morning, called for an end to “bloodshed, violence and destruction” that has permeated the protest, especially in the northern part of the country.
Thousands of Nigerians, many of them young people, began marching on the streets of major cities, including Lagos and Abuja, the commercial and political capital of the country, respectively, on August 1 to pressure the government to reverse “bad” economic policies.
The demonstrations are scheduled to end on August 10.
Obi, while reacting to the president’s address in a statement on Monday, commended Tinubu for breaking his silence, saying, “I must begin by thanking the President for finally addressing the people.”
Obi stated that while Tinubu’s address came later than expected, it might have prevented the unnecessary loss of innocent lives, including those of our security agents.
He added that he had hoped the president would show some empathy towards those who were injured, arrested, and detained due to “the overzealous and unprofessional conduct of some security operatives,” as he did with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the protest.
Obi noted 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 also called on Tinubu to surround himself with advisors who will present him with the unvarnished truth, rather than sycophants who may be shielding him from the reality of the situation.
Obi stated, “Nigeria must embrace all tenets of democracy, including the right to protest, without selective adherence. I also appreciate his condemnation of the ethnic bigotry being propagated by some individuals against other ethnic groups.
“However, I 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.
“The President’s address regrettably appeared 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.
“At this point, I strongly advise the President to distance himself from sycophants and surround himself with individuals who will present the unvarnished truth.”
