Tinubu’s Speech Misses the Mark: Ohanaeze Ndigbo Faults President’s Address to Nigerians
In a nationwide broadcast on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu addressed the economic challenges facing Nigeria. While he received praise from many for tackling the issue, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has expressed disappointment, arguing that the speech did not go far enough to address the ongoing protests and protests-related issues.
According to a statement by Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s factional Secretary-general, Okechukwu lsiguzoro, the organization believes that President Tinubu’s speech had the potential to sway protesters off the streets had he made a pronouncement on fuel price reversal or other demands of the protesters. The organization noted that while President Tinubu’s economic policies were "promising," immediate action was needed to address the protesters’ demands and prevent further chaos.
The statement also highlighted concerns over the potential for violence and unrest across the country, citing the anticipation of resumed protests from August 5th to 10th, 2024. Ohanaeze Ndigbo warned of local sponsors and international conspirators looking to escalate the situation and urged President Tinubu to take swift and decisive action to prevent further destabilization.
In urging the President to take action, Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasized the importance of demonstrating leadership and resolving to address the concerns of the people. While the implementation of economic policies may take time, the organization believes that immediate action is required to quell the protests and restore peace and stability in the country.
President Tinubu has the opportunity to make a positive impact, according to Ohanaeze Ndigbo, by addressing the protesters’ demands through other means and preventing the situation from escalating. It remains to be seen whether the President will take heed of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s words and make the necessary move to address the concerns of Nigerians.
