Protest Organisers Criticize Tinubu’s Broadcast as Out of Touch with Reality
The organisers of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests have expressed disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s recent nationwide broadcast. They argue that the president’s speech reveals a disconnection from the current realities in the country.
In a statement on Sunday, Micheal Lenin, National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, criticized the president for justifying state violence against protesters and journalists while dismissing their demands. Lenin said, “We are deeply disappointed with President Tinubu’s address, which came after over three weeks of protests, numerous deaths, and assaults on journalists. Instead of addressing the issues, the president only justified violence and ignored the protesters’ demands.”
Emiola Osifeso from the Take It Back Movement added that Tinubu’s claim that the protests are politically motivated reflects a profound disconnection from the masses. Osifeso stated, “The president’s assertion that our protests are driven by a political agenda is a gross misrepresentation of the economic reality faced by Nigerians. The protests are a lawful response to the government’s failure to address severe economic hardship, corruption, and human rights abuses. Instead of addressing these issues, Tinubu’s broadcast delegitimizes our legitimate grievances by portraying them as politically motivated.”
