Organisers of the nationwide protests against economic hardship, including former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, and human rights activist Femi Falana, have condemned President Bola Tinubu’s response to the ongoing demonstrations. The protests, which have entered their fourth day, continue to gain momentum across Nigeria.
Despite calls for the President to address a 15-point demand list, the nationwide broadcast delivered by Tinubu was deemed insufficient by the protest leaders. Demonstrations persisted at Gani Fawehinmi Park in Lagos, as well as in Osun and Kano, among other states. The police, meanwhile, restricted the protesters to designated areas, preventing them from marching beyond the park.
Deji Adeyanju, a key organiser of the protest, labelled the President’s address a “complete disaster.” He criticised Tinubu for failing to acknowledge or respond to the protesters’ demands, stating, “President Tinubu failed to address the demands of protesters, not even one, and it is very disappointing and unfortunate.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar echoed these sentiments, describing the broadcast as hollow and devoid of solutions to the hardships facing Nigerians. “His speech neglects the pressing economic hardships that have besieged Nigerian families since the very beginning of his tenure,” Atiku said through his media adviser, Paul Ibe.
Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka also expressed disappointment with Tinubu’s speech, particularly the President’s omission of any mention of the violent crackdown on protesters by security forces. “The tragic response to the ongoing hunger marches in parts of the nation constitutes a retrogression that takes the nation even further back,” Soyinka remarked.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana criticised the repression of peaceful protesters and called on the government to address their key demand: a reversal of the policy on fuel subsidies. He urged the government to set up commissions of inquiry to investigate and bring justice to those responsible for the recent killings.
The protests, sparked by rising living costs and economic instability, have seen at least 17 deaths in recent days. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other civil society groups have also criticised the President’s response, highlighting a lack of empathy and concrete action to alleviate the suffering of the populace.
As demonstrations continue, the organisers and participants remain steadfast in their demands for tangible reforms and accountability from the government.
