A popular Ondo State-based lawyer and human rights activist, Tope Temokun, has stated that the nationwide broadcast of President Bola Tinubu failed to address the anguish and pains of Nigerians.
According to Temokun, most Nigerians who had anticipated a soothing speech from the president, were left disappointed as Tinubu refused to acknowledge the hardship being experienced across the country.
The activist, who disclosed that the President is insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, maintained that it was disappointing that there was no measure to cushion the impact of the biting economy on the citizens.
The lawyer emphasised that Tinubu linking the protest to the handiwork of those with political agenda was an indication that he was yet to get the message and signals that the people were in deep pain.
He said, “In the introductory to the August 4 early morning broadcast today, President Tinubu took off by saying he speaks with a heavy heart, but shortly after that line, the president said that his government would not sit by idly and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear the nation apart. This statement is too sad.
“It shows the president has not come to terms with the fact that his citizens are struggling to survive excruciating hunger under his government.
“This aspect smacks of malice, insensitivity, and a sense of no responsibility to the citizens. In fact, the broadcast is an indictment on the protesters that the protest wasn’t a genuine response of reasonable youths who are truly hungry but just a handiwork of a few with a political agenda. The most dangerous liars are those who think they are telling the truth.
“This makes me weep that I belong to a nation in which, when people come out in hunger and frustration to cry for solutions for survival, their president would merely and briskly tag their cries as just the handiwork of a few with a political agenda. It shows the president didn’t feel our pain.
“The president said further that he hereby enjoined the protesters to suspend their strike and create room for dialogue without speaking directly to our pain and palliate the citizens by telling us as citizens what will be the price of bread from tomorrow, what the fuel stations will sell per litre of fuel tomorrow, and whether the price of yam will go down or not in the market going forward.
“All of the economic postulations he piled up in that speech are nothing new; they are routine government old stories, and there is no assurance to the protesting youths that their pain will be alleviated as soon as possible.
“In all, the speech is a failure! It did not talk to the angry and hungry youths of a nation crying to live.”