President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast on Sunday has been criticized by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who described it as an “empty statement” that exacerbated the ongoing hunger protest.
The ruling All Progressives Congress dismissed Mohammed’s claim. He serves as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum.
During an emergency security meeting at the Bauchi State Government House on Monday night, Mohammed stated, “I am not the President’s spokesperson, but I believe the President’s speech was devoid of substance. It has only escalated the situation further.”
The President, in his Sunday broadcast, urged the youth and citizens to halt the hunger protest that commenced on August 1. He explained that the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira were measures taken to prevent a complete collapse of the nation’s economy.
He also highlighted various government initiatives, including financial support to governors to alleviate the prevailing hardships.
However, Mohammed contended that the President should have consulted with state governors before the broadcast.
Describing the situation in Bauchi State, he stated, “We stand with the protesters in Bauchi State, but we do not support violent actions that cause harm and damage to lives and property.”
The security meeting convened on Monday aimed to address the issues surrounding the protests against bad governance, hunger, and general discontent in the nation.
Acknowledging the widespread hunger, anger, and poverty in the country, Mohammed emphasized the need for tangible actions rather than mere rhetoric to address the current challenges.
Disagreeing with Mohammed, the National Director of Publicity for the APC, Bala Ibrahim, raised questions about the governors’ accountability and utilization of resources provided by the Federal Government under Tinubu’s administration.
Ibrahim stated, “The governors must stop politicizing poverty and focus on their responsibilities. They should demonstrate effective utilization of allocated resources instead of shifting blame to the President.”