• Broadcast ‘full of pretence, hypocrisy’, restore subsidy now, says don
• Idris: President’s reforms seek to address past mistakes
• Bauchi gov knocks Tinubu again, says policies causing more pain
• Foundation asks FG to refrain from internet disruption during protests

President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to remain calm and patient as his administration works to address the country’s economic challenges.

The plea came as protests continue to rock several states nationwide.

The protesters are demanding the resumption of fuel subsidies, which Tinubu removed on May 29, 2023, following his swearing-in as president.

In an official video released by the State House yesterday, Tinubu acknowledged the difficulties faced by Nigerians and admitted that the transition has been tougher than expected.

He attributed the hardship to an “avoidable lag” between removing the subsidy and implementing his administration’s plans.

However, President Tinubu reassured Nigerians that his policies would yield positive results.

He said: “Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us, and there’s no doubt it is tough on us. But I urge you to look beyond the current temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. All our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work. Sadly, there was an avoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully online.

“I plead with you to please have faith in our ability to deliver and our concern for your well-being. We will get out of this turbulence, and due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.”

The President added: “We shall fulfil our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon the higher education system because of lack of money.

“Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On principle, we shall never falter. I assure you, my fellow countrymen and women that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn. Now, I must get back to work to make this vision come true.”

This is the second time the President has addressed the nation amid the ongoing protests and unrest. He previously addressed the nation in a national broadcast on Sunday, August 4, 2024.

HOWEVER, Prof. Lambert Ihebuzor, a former Dean of Mass Communication at Lead City University, Ibadan, criticised the broadcast, describing it as “full of pretence” and “hypocrisy.”

He said the President’s call for patience is insincere. He said government officials are “enjoying themselves” while asking citizens to bear the brunt of the economic hardship.

He cited the recent renovation of the vice president’s house and politicians’ high salaries as examples of the government’s extravagance.

“The President’s appeal is full of pretence. They do not mean what they are saying. If you want Nigerians to be patient, you don’t have to spend the kind of money you are spending,” Ihebuzor said.

He added: “If they do things properly, we won’t be where we are today. If the President had addressed Nigerians on the first day of the protest or even before, he would have been able to calm the people. He is unaware of how much Nigerians suffer because his cabinet is full.

“The first thing is that the subsidy should be restored fully or partially. The reason is that everybody in the country uses fuel. Market women use fuel because they have to travel to get their products. Once fuel is reduced, it will have a multiplier effect on the economy.”

This came as the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, maintained that the Tinubu administration’s primary goal is to rectify historical missteps and not impose hardship on Nigerians.

Speaking in Abuja yesterday during a briefing for the diplomatic community on recent nationwide protests, Idris stressed that the President is committed to implementing reforms to drive sustainable growth and improve citizens’ quality of life.

“It is important to kick off on this note: President Tinubu did not come to office to cause hardship or make life difficult for Nigerians. He has come to office with bold solutions to historical problems, determined to correct many of the poor policies and dysfunctional choices that have held us back as a nation for decades,” Idris said.

While acknowledging the current hardships, the minister noted that the administration’s decisive actions, including the painful abolition of the fuel subsidy, aimed to redirect funds towards critical sectors like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and security.

Acknowledging the transitional pains from these reforms, Idris highlighted comprehensive intervention programmes designed by the Federal Government to alleviate the impact on Nigerians.

MEANWHILE, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has again criticised President Bola Tinubu over his economic policies, which he said have caused more pain, hunger, and anger among the citizens, hence the reason for the #EndBadGovernance protests.

Mohammed said the President’s broadcast to the nation on Sunday failed to address the grievances of the protesting youths, who took to the streets to protest hunger and hardship. According to him, the President did not receive input from governors who are closer to the angry citizens.

Mohammed said this yesterday when he flagged off the Peoples Democratic Party’s campaign for the state’s August 17 local council election.

He said the youths are with “us, and we are with them. We have always respected people, especially their opinions. The protests have shown us many things. It has appeared that the (All Progressives Congress) APC leadership has done nothing.

“I listened with all attention to Mr. President’s speech and said, with humility and courage, that what he said was empty. It did not agree with the situation. It did not address the problems and challenges. The issues are not for the youths only; they are for us as leaders—from the President to subnational levels and the local government. We can see the manifestations with different colourations—from the North to the South.”

The governor said, “In the North, there is a very big wake-up call for us to bring good governance and respect people. There is hunger and anger. We have to really address our development problem. Unemployment is everywhere, and our educational system is not working.

“The federal government’s new policies are not working. They have to understand that. It is their problem. It is their programmes that have caused us these problems, so they have to change.”

The governor said the state government is ready to bring good governance. “It is not time to pass the buck and blame the governors or local governments.

Also, the Dataphyte Foundation, a media advocacy body, has called on the federal government to refrain from disrupting the internet during demonstrations.

The organisation said this would protect citizens’ digital rights and freedom of expression and enhance their ability to organise.

On August 1, Nigerians began experiencing difficulties making calls or accessing the internet amid the planned #EndBadGovernance protest.

Downtimes have persisted throughout the week of the demonstrations.

Minister of Communication, Bosun Tijani, said the government had no hand in the network disruptions.

In a statement yesterday, Femi Amele, Programmes Director of Dataphyte, said the interruption of information across digital channels undermines citizens’ ability to organise peacefully and hold government to account.

Amelie appealed to the government to engage constructively and transparently with citizens while empowering the local councils to ensure food security.

He urged citizens to use digital platforms responsibly and engage in peaceful, constructive dialogue to promote democratic growth and stability.

The statement reads in part: “In these challenging times, it’s crucial to recognise the significance of digital rights and freedom of expression. Digital rights and freedom of expression are fundamental to democracy, particularly during civil unrest.

“The government must show restraint in communication clampdowns, such as internet disruptions, as essential services and the very fabric of democratic engagement depend on the availability of communication channels.

“Furthermore, in response to the looming food crisis, we highlight the need for enhanced governance at the local government level, particularly in delivering interventions to tackle food insecurity in the country.”