Kenneth Okonkwo, the former Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council spokesman, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent broadcast addressing the #EndBadGovernance protests. Okonkwo described the speech as “bland and uninspiring,” arguing that it failed to address the pressing demands of the Nigerian people, who are protesting against hunger, hardship, deprivation, and degradation.
On Channels Television’s *Sunrise Daily*, Okonkwo stated, “The people are protesting for hunger and hardship, deprivation and degradation. And the president was compelled to speak. I wish they did not compel him. If I were a media aide, I would have preferred there was no speech at all because a bad speech is worse than no speech at all.”
Additionally, Okonkwo highlighted that the speech was leaked before its official release, calling for the dismissal of some of the president’s media aides responsible for the leak. He emphasized that President Tinubu should have directly addressed the protesters’ demands, including reversing the decision to purchase a new presidential jet and reducing the size of the cabinet.
Okonkwo also argued that the government should reinstate subsidies on petrol and electricity tariffs, describing subsidies as a form of palliative. He criticized the current administration for depreciating the standard of living in Nigeria and called for the restoration of productivity through the creation of a business-friendly environment.
Prominent figures, including Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, senior lawyer Femi Falana, and representatives from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), have echoed Okonkwo’s sentiments, criticizing Tinubu’s speech for inadequately responding to the protests and failing to meet the demands of the Nigerian populace.