Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, criticised President Bola Tinubu’s national address in response to the #EndBadGovernance protests.
In his Sunday speech, Tinubu urged protesters to halt their demonstrations and engage in dialogue, emphasising that the removal of the fuel subsidy was irreversible.
However, during the flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign for the local government election in Bauchi on Wednesday, Mohammed argued that the Federal Government should stop offering excuses to Nigerians.
“I listened to Mr. President’s speech with rapt attention and must say, with all humility and courage, that what he said was empty,” Mohammed remarked. “He did not acknowledge the situation or address the problems and challenges. These issues are not his alone; they belong to all of us leaders, from the presidency to the local government level.”
He noted that the situation presents a significant wake-up call for the North, emphasizing the need for good governance and respect for the people. “There is anger and hunger; we have to tackle our development problems,” he stated.
Mohammed criticised the new policy direction of the Federal Government, asserting that it is not effective. “They need to understand that their policies have caused these problems, and they must change them,” he said.
He also expressed disappointment with statements from some Federal Government ministers about receiving 70 trucks and over 500 million naira. “How much did the Federal Government make, and what did they do with it?” he questioned.