BY Uche Amunike
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s speech which was aired on Sunday because of the #EndBadGovernance protests ongoing nationwide, has not addressed the demands made by the protesters.
According to a statement released by the Spokesperson of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, President Tinubu’s address only shows insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.
The statement partly read: ‘The PDP asserts that the speech by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the ongoing protests in the country clearly confirms the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration’s insensitivity towards Nigerians and the very precarious situation in the country.’
‘Our Party is appalled that despite the fact that it took President Tinubu the prodding of the PDP to speak to the nation, it is distressing that the speech failed to offer any concrete measure to address the excruciating hardship in the country.’
It further stated: ‘Mr. President’s speech failed to respond to the demand by the citizens for immediate measures to reduce the price of petroleum products, halt the fall of the Naira, and urgent intervention in the provision of food items to starving Nigerians.’
‘It is equally shocking that the speech did not order an investigation into the brutal killing of unarmed Nigerians by certain unscrupulous operatives of the APC-controlled security agencies while demanding good governance, protection, security, and welfare, which are the primary purposes of government.’
The PDP called on the President Tinubu’s government to recognize that Nigeria is in dire straits under his administration. They moved that he addresses the demands of the people, especially so that it would bring about reducing the cost of petroleum products, destabilize the Naira and take quick steps towards providing food items to the entire country. They also recommended that he cuts the size of governance, expenditure on an unnecessary and luxurious items and release more resources for immediate intervention towards the well-being of every Nigerian.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has also criticized President Tinubu’s speech, stating that it did not address the demands of the protesters.
Speaking, through a statement released by the lawyer on Sunday, he maintained that the presidential speech lacked focus of addressing the key demand of the protesters which was a reversal of the policy of withdrawing fuel subsidy.
Hear him: ‘If the government takes the fight against corruption to oil dealers and crude oil is processed in government-owned refineries, there will be no basis for fuel subsidy, which is induced by the importation of petroleum products. A positive response to the key demands of the youths to review the protesters could make them review their actions. Insensitivity to their demands can only provoke continued action.’
He congratulated the peaceful protesters for drawing the attention of politicians who are eating in Abuja, to the plight of millions of hungry Nigerians. He also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of every protester that was arrested and detained, stating that they had not committed any criminal offense to warrant their arrests. He further called on the government to set up a commission of inquiry to bring justice to those that are responsible for the reckless killings.
His words: ‘We commiserate with the families of the patriots’ peaceful protesters that were killed and call on the Federal and State Governments to set up Commissions of Inquiry, which should include representatives of credible human rights organizations and the NBA to investigate the killings with a view to bringing to justice prosecute the reckless murderers in Police uniform and ensuring that.
‘The family members of the deceased should be adequately compensated by the federal government. The victims of the barbarous police killings should be identified and celebrated as heroes and heroines of the struggle for the emancipation of the downtrodden Nigerian people. Participation in peaceful protests should never be criminalized in Nigeria.’
