As the country celebrated its 64th Independence Day, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have expressed disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s address. Reactions were strong, particularly from Arc Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF). According to him, the presidential address failed to address the pressing issues facing Nigerians in the midst of two peaceful nationwide protests, the #EndBadGovernance and #FearlessOctober1 protests. Bassey noted that the President, surrounded by advisers, seemed to be sidestepping the basic concerns of Nigerians, merely advocating unpopular policies. The major concerns expressed were the floating of the Naira, the high cost of petroleum products despite the functioning of a refinery in Nigeria, and high electricity tariffs. It would have been possible for the President to promise a significant drop in the price of petroleum products, given the reduction in imports.
Another criticism points to the proposed duration of a youth conference on national issues. Bassey highlights the contrast between this initiative and the repression of peaceful protests, highlighting the lack of coherence in government actions. He also questions the responsibility for the persistent pollution in the Niger Delta despite the entertainment speeches evoked by the President.
Beyond these criticisms, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, calls on the President to take his governance function more seriously. He calls for concrete measures that would improve the lives of citizens and restore the image of the nation. He stresses the need for leadership that meets the expectations of Nigerians and can promote the development and prosperity of the country.
Reacting to the presidential address, the Executive Director of the African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, highlighted this attempt to downplay protests against bad governance, pointing to a lack of respect for democracy. He stressed the importance of recognizing the voice of the people and ensuring an enabling environment for the exercise of democratic rights.
In sum, the CSOs call for urgent government awareness, concrete actions to address the current challenges facing the country, and to restore Nigeria’s dignity and respectability on the national and international stage. As the country celebrates 64 years of independence, it is time to act to address the aspirations and needs of the Nigerian people.