An elder statesman in Taraba state, Chief John Mamman on Wednesday said, he expected President Bola Tinubu to have addressed the concerns of the suffering Nigerians instead of outlining his government achievements in the Sunday broadcast.
Chief Mamman expressed that keeping quiet over Nigerians’ plight was even better than an empty speech of such magnitude that failed to provide immediate solution or hope to the problem on ground.
According to the elder statesman, he expected President Bola Tinubu to have announced the reduction of fuel pump price which is the major reason for the current hardship, to either 200 or 300 Naira per litre, outlined his government’s immediate steps toward alleviating the current hardship.
“I wish to join other reasonable and sincere citizens of Nigeria to call on President Bola Tinubu to readdress Nigerians on the issue raised by protesters. The Sunday broadcast was not in line with the current situation in Nigeria that triggered the ongoing protest.
“The protesters have raised genuine concerns and I expected the president to have addressed them to give every Nigerian a hope for a better tomorrow in the country.
“President Bola Tinubu should have immediately announced the reduction of fuel pump price which is the major reason behind the current hardship. He should have declared the petrol price to either 200 or 300 Naira per litre, outlined his government’s immediate steps toward alleviating the current hardship and other matters raised by the protesting Nigerians.
“I do not want to say I am disappointed in the speech but I must state here that keeping quiet would have even been better than such a speech at the moment.
“I don’t think Nigerians are against President Tinubu and his government. What we want is good governance, and that is what we expect Tinubu to do.
“The idea of palliative is not the best for now. The money used for providing palliative is enough to establish at least, mini-companies across 36 states of the country that would create job opportunities for youth and further boost government revenue.
“I expected Tinubu to have announced the reduction in cost of governance and use the money to provide amenities like industries, roads as well as provide a template for Mass food production.
“What Nigerians wanted to hear from the president was his pronouncement that would follow with action for the immediate alleviation of the current hardship and place the country on the global map of good governance and development.
“President Tinubu should have told Nigerians the position of all our refineries, the steps taken to put them in good shape for use. I call on the president to be patriotic and readdress Nigerians in a way that everyone will feel relieved.”
