Nigeria’s Ex-Governor Faults Planned Protest Against Tinubu Administration
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has sparked controversy by questioning the motives behind a planned #EndBadGovernance protest against the President Bola Tinubu administration. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, Fayose claimed that the planned August hardship protest has political dimensions.
Fayose, a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration, argued that the organizers of the protest have sinister motives. He pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu’s predecessor, was in power for eight years and there was no hunger protest despite the hardship in the country at the time.
Buhari, a former military head of state from Katsina State in North-West Nigeria, was Nigeria’s democratically elected President from May 2015 to May 2023. He handed over power to Tinubu, former Lagos governor from the South-West geopolitical zone.
Fayose stated that hunger did not start overnight, but rather has been a long-standing issue in Nigeria. He recalled that during his time in office, there were protests against former President Goodluck Jonathan, who left office in 2015. Fayose claimed that the economic issues confronting Nigeria are a result of past administrations and not solely the responsibility of the current government.
The former governor also emphasized that Nigeria is a difficult country to govern, and that any government needs time to implement its policies. He urged Nigerians to be patient and not to resort to protests or calls for regime change without a clear understanding of the underlying issues.
The Buhari administration has witnessed several major protests, including the #EndSARS protest against police brutality, demonstrations by university lecturers, and pro-Labour rallies. However, Fayose’s comments have sparked debate about the true intentions behind the planned #EndBadGovernance protest.
As the country continues to grapple with economic challenges, the Tinubu administration will need to address the concerns of Nigerians and demonstrate its commitment to addressing the country’s problems.
