According to stakeholders who spoke to DAILY POST on Sunday, President Tinubu’s recent address did not adequately address critical concerns.
Area Youths Demand Action on Insecurity and Governance Costs
Yerima Shettima, President General of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), expressed disappointment with President Tinubu’s speech, stating that it failed to tackle the pressing issue of insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
“For me, there are two angles to it from the north here. If there is anything he has not touched, it is the fact that he would have looked at what is the specific challenge of the Northerners.
“What is our problem? Our problem is the issue of insecurity. I would have wanted him to declare a state of emergency on insecurity, especially in the northern part of the country.
“He can even be specific by mentioning at least five states in the North. States like Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno and probably Katsina State.
Declare a state of emergency and let us see that you are hard on this issue. Declare a state of emergency and put the security chiefs on their feet.
“Give them some months to bring lasting solutions to the problems. This is what we expected from the president and this is where I can say that he has not done enough”.
Shettima suggested that Tinubu should have declared a state of emergency in affected northern states such as Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara, Borno, and Katsina to address the crisis effectively.
He also criticized the president for not addressing calls to reduce the cost of governance, an issue he believes is crucial.
Despite this, Shettima supported the president’s stance on fuel subsidy, acknowledging the global challenges and the difficulty of reinstating it.
He attributed Nigeria’s current economic difficulties to the previous administration led by Muhammadu Buhari, blaming it for fiscal mismanagement.
Shettima noted that while the president’s policies might not yet be effective, they should gradually produce results, though he remains concerned about the high cost of governance.
“Even as things are, and from the analysis we have gathered, Nigerians were supposed to pay more than N1000 for a liter but the president went far to overstretch the government and gave subsidy behind the knowledge of so many Nigerians”.
“It was the last government that put us into this mess. They went out of the way and acquired so much money that they can’t even account for it.
“I am shocked to see that none of those ministers that squandered our money has been brought books.
“For me, Tinubu has communicated. Some of us know that there are certain policies that have been put on ground.
The policies may likely not have impacted positively at the moment, but gradually, those things will come to pass.
“Yes we all can feel the heat but we shouldn’t be in a hurry. We are suffering. Look at the size of the government. Tinubu failed to address the demands that he should cut the cost of governance”.
Peter Obi’s Spokesman Criticizes Lack of Practical Solutions
Yunusa Tanko, spokesperson for former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, criticized Tinubu’s speech for lacking practical solutions.
Tanko argued that Tinubu failed to address key issues raised by protesters, such as reducing the price of petroleum and addressing economic hardship.
He called for actionable measures to lower commodity prices, improve security, and enhance agricultural production, particularly in northern regions.
He said, “I don’t think he has addressed the issues raised by the protesters. President Tinubu ought to have responded to each and every demand that is already made in the fliers.
“For example, the issue of price of petroleum, bringing it down from N850 to at least N200.
“This is the major thing that is affecting every aspect of the economy across the country.
“Or he talks about how to bring the cost of commodities down to appreciable levels or he even ought to have talked about how to secure the lives and properties with practical examples.
“He should have also talked about how to enhance the production of agricultural products, especially in northern Nigeria where we have land and even the issue of the protest is even more severe.
“People want to hear him say something like ‘we are bringing in tractors, fertilizers, seedlings and everything needed so that people can return to their farm’. These are practical examples that you can show to make people believe that you are dealing with this matter not to continue to speak grammar with no actionable solutions to the problems.
“I don’t think he has addressed the issues to be honest”.
Dele Momodu Expresses Shock Over President’s Address
Publisher Dele Momodu also condemned the president’s speech, expressing surprise at its content.
In a post on his X handle, Momodu criticized Tinubu for not addressing the protesters’ demands and suggested that the speech reflected a failure to adapt his approach from his tenure as Lagos State governor.
He expressed skepticism about the president’s willingness to address public grievances.
He said, “After the long-awaited speech of President Bola Tinubu eventually came this morning, I’m sure most of you would be as stupefied as me.
“I must confess that I had little hope of Tinubu granting some concessions to the aggrieved Nigerians.
“As a man who has held an iron grip on Lagos State for the last 25 years, it would be difficult for him to change a winning formula that has worked for him ever since.
“Also, what did we expect his advisers to be telling him when most of them have been his most fanatical cronies from Lagos who have learnt never to challenge the master?
“So it was merely wishful thinking on the part of incurable optimists like me to think he was going to have mercy on hapless and seemingly helpless Nigerians.”
Afenifere to Review and Respond
Comrade Jare Ajayi, National Publicity Secretary of the pan-Yoruba group Afenifere, indicated that the organization is currently reviewing the president’s speech and will release its position soon.
