Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has expressed his disappointment over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent national address. In his response titled “My Response to the President’s Address” on his X handle, Obi stated that Tinubu’s speech failed to address the underlying issues that triggered the recent protests and appeared disconnected from the harsh realities faced by the people.
Obi highlighted his initial hesitation to respond immediately, fearing it might be seen as an attempt to influence public opinion. However, he felt compelled to speak out due to the address’s shortcomings. He thanked the President for eventually addressing the nation but criticised the lack of empathy for those injured, arrested, and detained during the protests due to overzealous security operatives.
In his response, Obi called for decisive action against those propagating ethnic intolerance and emphasised the need for regular updates from the President to restore hope and rebuild trust in the nation. He condemned the ethnic bigotry against certain groups and stressed the government’s duty to protect peaceful protesters.
Obi urged the President to address 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. He concluded by calling for immediate and concrete measures to alleviate Nigerians’ suffering and set the country on a path to recovery.