Victor Ezeja
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has charged President Bola Tinubu to declare war on challenges rocking the country such as insecurity, poverty unemployment, crisis in the economy and power sector.
Obi made the call via a statement on his X handle on Monday while reacting to the president’s Sunday address to Nigerians regarding the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest nationwide.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelObi, who had urged the president to address protesters, expressed gratitude for the President’s belated address, noting that it might have prevented additional loss of life, including that of security personnel.
He pointed out that Tinubu failed to address critical issues that sparked the agitation.
He criticised the President for not showing sufficient empathy towards those affected by the excessive actions of some security operatives during the protests.
He emphasised the government’s role in protecting peaceful protesters while addressing criminal elements disrupting the demonstrations. Obi welcomed the President’s condemnation of ethnic bigotry but called for more decisive actions, including the immediate arrest and prosecution of those promoting intolerance.
Obi described the President’s address as out of touch with the current realities, suggesting either a lack of awareness among the President’s advisers or a deliberate neglect of pressing issues. He urged the President to distance himself from sycophants and engage with individuals who can provide honest feedback.
Obi observed that instead of highlighting the past, there is need for urgent attention to present and future challenges, such as reducing the high cost of governance, tackling corruption, and addressing the high cost of living.
“While the President’s speech focused on the past, the people are concerned with the present and the future. He should begin by addressing pressing issues such as the exorbitant cost of governance, measures to tackle corruption, the high cost of living, and directing resources effectively towards critical areas like health, education, and poverty alleviation. I respectfully reiterate that the President should declare a war on insecurity, the economy, poverty, unemployment, and the power sector,” Obi stated.
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He called for targeted efforts in key areas like health, education, and poverty alleviation.
Obi also called for a comprehensive approach to tackling insecurity, economic difficulties, and other critical issues, urging the President to provide regular briefings on tangible measures being implemented to address the nation’s problems.
Obi called for a shift from merely highlighting current issues to taking meaningful action, adding that Nigerians are already aware of the extent the problems.
He added that the citizens do not expect the President to solve the nation’s problems overnight, but they a consistent effort to effectively manage public resources, combat corruption, and enhance critical sectors to foster national growth and restore hope for Nigeria’s future.
“Nigerians do not expect the President to solve the nation’s problems overnight, 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.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
