Opposition political parties in Nigeria, under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Political Science Association, urged President Bola Tinubu to reevaluate his policies to address the demands of the protesters.
The CUPP National spokesperson, Mark Adebayo, lamented that the presidency mismanaged the #EndBadGovernance and hunger protests due to a lack of proactive ideas and necessary actions to forestall the accompanying carnage.
Adebayo, in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, noted that a truly concerned, patriotic, and competent president would have immediately sprung into action by first addressing the nation.
He stated, “The lives that were lost were a needless tragedy; the property destroyed was avoidable, and the huge economic losses were preventable. But we have a president who is too far removed from the realities of his people’s suffering to care.
“His address after the bloodshed and losses was nondescript, ineffectual, uninspiring, demeaning, and hope-crushing. President Tinubu was prepared to be president but never prepared to govern.”
The NYCN President, Sukubo Sara-Igbe, pointed out that the challenges faced by Nigerians did not originate with the current administration, but there was an expectation for President Tinubu to tackle the issues. Sara-Igbe urged protesters to prioritize the country’s stability and peace, advocating for a move towards dialogue.
The NPSA President, Professor Hassan Saliu, observed that the external factors involved in the protest indicated that the situation was escalating. In an interview with one of our correspondents, Saliu emphasized the need for a careful approach, noting that while the beginning of a conflict could be known, its outcome remained uncertain.
