Day 6 of the #EndBadGovernance protest gets tougher in Rivers State as protesters stormed the residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, along Ada-George Road, Port Harcourt. They barricaded some axes, roads, and forced traders to close shops.

The protesters also took the demonstration to several rural communities across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.

The protesters, who also forced motorists and traders to lift up green leaves in solidarity with the protest, vowed to occupy the streets until the 10th day until their demands are addressed. They lamented that they were further grieved by the broadcast of President Bola Tinubu on the ongoing protest.

They said the president failed to address the demands of the #EndBadGovernance protesters but rather threatened Nigerians.

The protesters and some stakeholders described the President’s speech as nepotistic and anti-people, saying it has worsened the economic crisis being fought against by the bad governance protesters.

They also noted that the president’s regime is currently hitting hard on the common man whose welfare and well-being are being denied.

Speaking on the development, the National Publicity Secretary of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, and the Programmes and Communications Manager, Social Action, Peter Mazzi, regretted that the president’s speech only reiterated the same clichés his media team has been broadcasting for a while to defend policies that have plunged key economic indices regressively low.

Mazzi pointed out that the president rather made subtle threats clear to Nigerians instead of meeting the protesters’ demands like the reduction of electricity tariffs, the high cost of petrol and governance, fixing of the local refineries, and electoral reforms.

“The only economy the masses understand is the soaring cost of food, transportation, and living expenses, rather than statistical figures in billions which only create more mystery for the people. It is doubtful if the youth of Nigeria will muster trust in a government that has failed so far to keep its campaign promises and manifesto which promised to make the youth the focal points of economic reforms and policies,” Mazzi stated.

The INC spokesman lamented that instead of blaming political opponents for allegedly sponsoring the protesters, the president should have made concrete commitments on how to improve the economy.

He reiterated the need to consider the reversion of the pump price, improve the standard of living, reduce the cost of governance as well as electricity tariffs, and address the insecurity issues in the country.

The stakeholders insisted that the President is playing to the gallery and not matching words with actions, not addressing the issues as they affect the common masses.

For Public Affairs Analyst and Director General, Youth Action Network, Joe Odey, the President should understand that the protests show that Nigerians are struggling due to the poor state of the economy and high prices of commodities.

He pointed out that “the people, especially the youths, are affected by unemployment, insecurity, and other problems that make it hard for them to start their lives.”

He insisted that the removal of the petrol subsidy remains a sensitive issue because its spike in price affected the cost of all goods and services.

He said, “The President said the subsidy had to go because of ‘smugglers and rent-seekers.’ The big question is, why should the whole country suffer because of these rent-seekers? Why can’t the government deal with them and keep the subsidy for the people?”

He, however, noted that if the President can implement half of the initiatives contained in the speech like the setting up of the CNG stations, things will improve significantly.

He added, “The state governors must also do their parts as they have a serious role to play in stabilising the country and making the benefits of governance trickle down to the youths and to Nigerians generally.”

Reacting also, the Director, Foundation for Non-Violence Social Change, Bonny Akeeze said the president just reiterated his administration policies, by simply asking Nigerians to give his administration time, “but I think that is not what Nigerians want from him.”

He said, “I think too that the majority of the people know about these policies have been over flogged. He should be telling us now what and what is on the table for the common man.

“If more money is in the hands of the political class, we cannot celebrate because it means nothing for the average person on the streets. So, the only way to applaud President Tinubu’s policy is when the impact is positively felt by all and sundry. And so, his speech didn’t speak to the heart of the situation on the ground.”

Akeeze, who urged the protesters to quit the scene now that the ovation is louder, said the protest has had a great impact, judging by the way it touched and created concern across the board, even as the world has seen it.

For General Overseer, Champion for Christ Chapel, Asaba, Samuel Akpan-Isong, the president’s speech means nothing, knowing that Nigerians are suffering and during the protest, many lives were lost.

According to him, the key issues the people are asking are the total reduction in the pump price of fuel, which led to the current problems we have found ourselves in, but the president obviously left that in abeyance, calling for dialogue which may not be embraced now that hunger is fighting everyone.

The cleric asserted that hunger was triggered by the increase in pump price and other issues unaddressed, but the president is talking as if he doesn’t know what is wrong in the country or not fully prepared for the job of running the country in the first place.

He, however, called on the protesters to give peace a chance and dialogue with the president to know what he has to offer in the prevailing winds of change blowing across the country.

Also, the state coordinator, Young Nigeria Right, Victor Ojei, who apparently was piqued by the president’s speech, said “it was obvious that the president does not really want the common man to exist in Nigeria,” stressing that “all that he said are not what the masses want to hear.”

“We want to hear that the price of fuel is N300 or N400; then everybody will jump up celebrating. We want to hear him talk about functional refineries. We want to hear about accountability henceforth so that those who are caught stealing the money are found behind bars.

For the agricultural equipment, loan and grants, he claimed that those close to the president will corner them instead of the real farmers who are always denied access to them.

But, a human rights activist, Anthony Sawyer, applauded the Tinubu-led administration for driving the nation in the right direction with its numerous achievements.

While describing the nationwide end hunger protest as uncalled for, Sawyer attributed the prevailing economic hardship in the country to the maladministration of previous governments.

He stressed that President Tinubu was doing everything possible to address the economic and security challenges as well as the hardship Nigerians were passing through.

He said that the best option was dialogue with the government and not protest, reminding them that it was only through proper engagement and dialogue that meaningful results could be achieved.

Sawyer, therefore, urged Nigerians to be patient with President Tinubu, saying his policies would put the nation on the right trajectory.

He maintained that Nigeria was polarised and appealed to Nigerians irrespective of their geopolitical zones to cooperate and support Tinubu, and also to shun unnecessary sentiments tantamount to bringing division to the country.

Sawyer added that the removal of the petroleum subsidy was a strategic measure by the Tinubu administration to stabilise the economy, saying that in no distant time, the country would enjoy the benefits even as he told Nigerians that the present sufferings would soon be over.