Hardship Protests: Is Tinubu’s Tomorrow Address Coming Late? (EDITORIAL)
President Bola Tinubu has been watching and monitoring the nationwide protests against hardship and hunger according to Atiku Bagudu, the minister of Budget Planning. And now after serious constructive and destructive criticism from across the country decided to talk directly to Nigerians over the issue.
He had watched lawlessness take over the whole of northern region. President Bola Tinubu is not a green horn when it comes to protest. He championed and indeed led on in 2012 against the former President Goodluck Jonathan. He must be tasting the bitterness that his predecessors including Muhammadu Buhari had.
He would talk tomorrow morning and the people of the country, most especially the protesters would keenly watch and listen to him. But is the planned address coming late?
Definitely, lots of damage have been done. Kano State Government is still working to restore normalcy fully. The government and private businesses were looted and destroyed in the first two days of the protest. Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno, Yobe also suffered a great deal of damage in a protest that could have been avoided if the president had woken up on time and done the needful.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was able to forestall a breakdown of law and order and a repeat of the Endsars protest. He addressed the people of the state, hence there was peace and tranquility in the commercial hub of the country.
The president could have done the same. Most definitely, the protests could still have gone on if he had talked with the people before the protesters hit the streets. Yet there wouldn’t be serious violence and the conveners might even lose morale to carry on. A president’s speech can be a balm if properly used. The president missed the opportunity.
He even allowed the inactive and polarized Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take advantage of his silence. The party, which is bereft of ideas of how to unify itself, had to come out with a press statement released by National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba to condemn the president.
That wouldn’t have happened if he had talked to the people. His silence has got lots of unintended interpretations. Some critics said he was simply lost of ideas. They might be right, because a good leader wouldn’t wait for the problems to come. They attempt to nip it in the bud.
Nevertheless, the president’s speech would go a long way tomorrow to show whether the protests would continue or not. If he displays the same insensitivity he used to announce the removal of subsidy, he would throw the country into pandemonium. His policies have already made more millions of seriously poor people.
But if he were careful in his choice of words and he persuades the people telling them what he plans to do with the demands of the people, he will be able to change the tide and make the people return home.
