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Atiku Slams Tinubu’s Speech, Claims It Fails to Address Protesters’ Concerns
Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent address regarding the #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Atiku contends that Tinubu’s speech fell short of addressing the core issues raised by the demonstrators and failed to resonate with the broader Nigerian populace.
Atiku’s critique, delivered through a statement from his media adviser Paul Ibe, underscores the perceived deficiencies in Tinubu’s address.
According to Atiku, the President’s speech lacked depth and did not offer concrete solutions to the severe economic challenges that have plagued Nigerians since Tinubu assumed office.
The PDP leader argues that Tinubu’s response failed to inspire confidence in his administration’s ability to effect meaningful reforms.
He points out that the speech was marred by its premature leakage, which, according to Atiku, reflects a broader issue of diminishing trust in the current administration.
Atiku elaborates that Tinubu’s address was intended to quell the unrest stemming from public dissatisfaction with the administration’s governance.
However, Atiku believes the speech was insufficient, particularly in addressing the pressing economic difficulties faced by Nigerian families.
He criticizes the President for not presenting substantial reforms or practical measures to alleviate the economic burden.
The former Vice President notes that the President missed key opportunities to address specific demands from the protesters.
These demands included halting the acquisition of new aircraft for the President, reducing the size of his cabinet, and reconsidering the costly office of the First Lady, which has reportedly been engaged in extravagant activities funded by the public.
Atiku describes Tinubu’s speech as superficial, suggesting that it revealed the President’s weak grasp of the policy issues at hand.
He argues that the President’s words failed to convince the public and did not reflect a genuine commitment to addressing the protesters’ grievances.
Furthermore, Atiku criticizes the administration for its failure to manage the speech’s confidentiality, as evidenced by its early leak.
This incident, he argues, is emblematic of the broader loss of confidence in the government.
In his statement, Atiku emphasizes that the current economic crisis is not the result of opposition sabotage but rather a consequence of the Tinubu administration’s ineffective policies.
He calls on the government to cease the practice of blaming past administrations and to confront the realities of their own shortcomings.
Overall, Atiku’s response highlights a significant disconnect between the administration’s messaging and the public’s expectations for substantive change and accountability.
Candidates scheduled to retake the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will start receiving text messages from today, Thursday. A total of 379,997 candidates across five South East states and Lagos are expected to resit the exam. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, confirmed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
He explained that 206,610 candidates in 65 centers in Lagos and 173,387 candidates across 92 centers in the Owerri zone of the South East were affected. Oloyede took full responsibility for what he described as a “sabotage” of the UTME and apologized to the candidates. Out of the 1.9 million who sat for the exam, more than 1.5 million scored below 200 out of a possible 400 marks.
A lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Christian Okeke, has called on the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to go beyond shedding tears and take full accountability by resigning from his position.
This comes after JAMB admitted to technical issues during the 2025 UTME. Okeke criticized the decision to have candidates in some centers rewrite the exam, describing it as unfair and emotionally distressing. He insisted that only the release of the original results can truly correct the situation.
According to him, JAMB initially defended the poor outcomes, where over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200, claiming it reflected their academic ability. He argued that it took public outcry and pressure from stakeholders before the board acknowledged its failures.
He described Oloyede’s emotional apology as insufficient, saying, “Tears won’t fix the damage. His resignation is the next responsible step.” Okeke also condemned the planned resit for candidates in 65 Lagos centers and 92 across the South East, calling it an inconsiderate move that shows a lack of empathy for the affected students and their families.
Activist and president of the North Central Youth Council, Sunday Asuku, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima with a Christian candidate in the 2027 general election.
In a statement on Monday, Asuku stressed that Tinubu’s choice of vice president could make or break his chances for re-election. He argued that selecting a Christian vice president would not only be symbolic but also a strategic and unifying move for Nigeria’s democracy.
Asuku mentioned that the 2027 elections will be a crucial test of Nigeria’s commitment to unity and inclusivity. He pointed out that the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 elections created division, and that addressing this imbalance with a Christian running mate would help strengthen national cohesion.
He went on to say that religious balance in leadership is still a vital necessity in Nigeria’s diverse society. “Tinubu has a chance to correct the mistake of 2023 and make a strong statement of inclusion. This opportunity should not be missed,” Asuku said.
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