Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to focus on solving Nigeria’s problems rather than merely listing them in his speeches.
Obi expressed this viewpoint on Monday in response to the president’s Sunday address, which followed nationwide protests sparked by widespread hardship.
Explaining his delayed reaction, Obi said, “I hesitated to respond immediately to avoid the perception that I was trying to sway public opinion, especially since I was initially accused of sponsoring the protests.”
While he thanked President Tinubu for finally addressing the nation, Obi criticized the timing, suggesting that an earlier response could have “prevented the unnecessary loss of innocent lives, including those of our security agents.”
Obi emphasized the need for the president to show empathy not only towards the families of those who lost their lives but also towards those “injured, arrested, and detained due to the overzealous and unprofessional conduct of some security operatives,” a sentiment he found lacking in the president’s address.
He highlighted the government’s responsibility to distinguish between criminal elements disrupting protests and those genuinely exercising their democratic rights. Obi called for a full embrace of democratic principles in Nigeria, including the right to protest without selective enforcement.
Acknowledging President Tinubu’s condemnation of ethnic bigotry, Obi urged for more decisive action, such as the immediate arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, to send a clear message that intolerance will not be tolerated in modern Nigeria.
Obi expressed disappointment that the president’s speech seemed disconnected from the severe challenges faced by the populace and failed to address the core issues that led to the protests. “It either reflects a lack of awareness among his advisers regarding the scale of anger, hunger, and hardship in the country, or a deliberate choice to disregard it,” he stated.
He advised President Tinubu to avoid sycophants and surround himself with individuals who will present the unvarnished truth.
While the president focused on past issues, Obi pointed out that Nigerians are concerned with the present and future. He urged Tinubu to tackle pressing matters such as the high cost of governance, corruption, the rising cost of living, and effective resource allocation towards critical areas like health, education, and poverty alleviation.
The former Anambra State governor reiterated that the president should declare a war on insecurity, the economy, poverty, unemployment, and the power sector. “Persistent issues of corruption and mismanagement of public funds must be addressed decisively,” he added.
Obi suggested that regular briefings from the president, whether quarterly or biannually, are essential to communicate the tangible measures being taken to revive the nation, restore hope, and rebuild trust.
He concluded by advising the president to “reduce the repetition of how dire the situation is; every Nigerian is already aware of the extent of the problems. Mr. President, you and your team were elected not just to witness the protests but to alleviate the suffering of the people.”
“Nigerians do not expect the president to solve the nation’s problems overnight,” Obi stated, “but we do expect a concerted effort to address the mismanagement of public resources, reduce the high cost of governance, and tackle issues like insecurity, corruption, electricity, agriculture, and productivity to set the country on a path to recovery and growth. By doing so, the president can restore hope and rekindle the people’s faith in our dear country Nigeria.”
