Lagos, Nigeria — Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent nationwide broadcast, which addressed ongoing protests against governance issues in Nigeria.

In a speech delivered on Sunday, August 4, President Tinubu responded to the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests that began on August 1. The protesters have called for significant changes, including a return of fuel subsidies, improvements in living standards, cuts in governance costs, reductions in electricity tariffs, and solutions to rising insecurity.

Ezekwesili took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her dissatisfaction with the President’s address, describing it as a “monumental missed opportunity.” She criticized the speech for failing to address the protesters’ concerns effectively, alleging that it resembled a party manifesto rather than providing substantive answers and evidence-based actions.

“@officialABAT, as one of the millions who heard your speech, let me say it was terribly underwhelming,” Ezekwesili wrote. “Your speech reads like a page from your party manifesto and fails to connect with the anger and demands of our citizens.”

She accused the speech of being driven by a mindset focused on “getting back at our enemies,” rather than addressing the real issues at hand. “No true leader sees their citizens as enemies,” she stated. “A public leader should unite all citizens for the common purpose of nation-building.”

Ezekwesili also condemned the broader unwillingness of Nigerian leaders to take responsibility for governance issues. She called on security agencies to hold accountable those responsible for violence against protesters and urged immediate action to prevent further harm.

“It is nauseating to see public leaders avoid responsibility while they harm citizens,” she said. “Citizens know when they are being badly governed, and they are speaking up to demand change.”

She concluded by calling for the Inspector General of Police to stop violence against peaceful protesters and to ensure that those responsible for any harm are sanctioned as a deterrent.

Ezekwesili’s remarks highlight ongoing discontent with the current administration’s handling of public grievances and its response to widespread protests.