By Abiola Olawale
A former Vice President and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national address to Nigerians on Sunday.
The former Vice President described Tinubu’s speech as hollow and inadequate in addressing the suffering of Nigerians, saying that the speech was empty and hollow.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Sunday, pointed out that Tinubu’s address failed to provide solutions to the severe economic challenges.
He said he expected the President to announce the suspension of the purchase of a new presidential jet and downsizing his cabinet, among other reforms that would take the economic hardship in the country.
He stated: “This address lacks credibility and fails to offer any immediate, tangible solutions to the Nigerian people. Given the extensive publicity surrounding the protests and the threats issued by government officials against demonstrators, one would have expected President Tinubu to present groundbreaking reforms, particularly those aimed at reducing the exorbitant costs of governance.
“But alas, no such announcements were made. The President ignored the protesters’ demands, such as suspending the purchase of aircraft for the President, downsizing his bloated cabinet, or even eliminating the costly and burdensome office of the First Lady, who has been indulging in extravagant trips at the nation’s expense.
“In his lacklustre recorded speech, President Tinubu offered a superficial account of his so-called reforms, revealing his tenuous grasp of policy as he failed to convince his audience. While the President has spoken, it is unfortunate that his words lack substance and respect for the protesters’ sentiments, leaving Nigerians with little faith in his reform agenda – if one exists at all.
“We urge the President and his team to own up to their failures over the past 14 months and abandon the absurd theory that the protests are orchestrated by the opposition. This administration has failed on all fronts, even in the simple task of keeping a presidential speech confidential.
“Typically, presidential addresses are shared under embargo with media houses. However, the premature leak of this speech, allowing Nigerians to read along with the President in real-time, starkly illustrates the media, nay Nigerians dwindling confidence in this administration.”
