Tinubu’s address didn’t offer solutions to hardship, says Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the national broadcast made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday morning, pointing out that it didn’t offer solutions to the economic hardship.

In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku noted that the President’s 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,” he added.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, said: “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 own 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.”

He urged 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.”

On the allegation that the protests were sponsored by the opposition, Atiku said, “The opposition did not create the economic quagmire we find ourselves in; this disaster is solely the result of the Tinubu administration’s trial-and-error policies. It is high time they stopped the blame game and faced the reality of their failures.

“This administration has failed on all fronts, even in the simple task of keeping a presidential speech confidential.”