Residents of Awka, Anambra State capital, have expressed diverse opinions on President Bola Tinubu’s recent nationwide broadcast regarding the ongoing #EndHunger protests.
While some praised the address as timely and empathetic, others felt it failed to adequately address the underlying issues driving the protests.
Chris Azor, coordinator of the Anambra State Civil Society Network (ASCONET), acknowledged that the president highlighted steps his administration is taking to address the challenges inherited upon assuming office.
However, Azor noted that the speech lacked concrete measures to immediately address the pressing concerns of the masses, including hunger, hardship, increased cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment.
Azor, a good governance advocate, emphasized that the protesters’ demands are rooted in harsh realities, and the president’s address did not provide sufficient solutions to alleviate their suffering in the short term.
“The president did not say anything about insecurity, fuel subsidy removal, the humongous cost of governance, and how to tackle them immediately. We did not see specifics and timelines for how to solve the issue of hikes in the prices of food items, social services, and galloping inflation.
“Furthermore, the President’s language betrays fixation with political opponents as the cause of the crisis; it is a curious misreading and lack of understanding of the core existential issues,” he said.
Mr Azor said the warning to ethnic bigots was welcome but urged the president to arrest and prosecute promoters to serve as a deterrent for others.
He said civil society was worried about the high cost of governance and called for implementing the Oronsaye panel report to the right size ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as to reduce the duplication of functions.
“We commend Mr President for the address. Going further, we want him to put in place immediate security measures to give farmers access to their farms without hindrance by herders and bandits to ensure massive food production,” said the activist.
Jude Atupulazi, a social commentator, described the president’s speech as fairly good, with many promises.
Mr Atupulazi said at the bottom of today’s problems was the removal of fuel subsidy without emplacing measures to cushion the effects, adding that instead of improving people’s lives, it had left them worse off.
He said he had expected that the president would address the downturn in the real sector due to the harsh operational environment, noting that it was a major contributor to unemployment and poverty.
The mixed reactions in Awka reflect the broader national debate on the government’s response to the ongoing protests and the need for effective solutions to the country’s pressing challenges.
(NAN)
