• Announces National Youth Conference to empower young Nigerians
• Nigeria sitting on keg of gunpowder — Obi
• Tinubu, APC insensitivity to Nigerians- PDP
'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered a heartfelt national broadcast on October 1, 2024, marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary. Addressing the nation, the President acknowledged the tough times many Nigerians are facing, particularly in terms of rising living costs and unemployment. However, he urged citizens to remain patient and steadfast as the government works through economic reforms designed to alleviate their struggles.
"We are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens," Tinubu said. "I assure you, your voices are heard, and our reforms are beginning to show positive signs. We see light at the end of the tunnel."
Reflections on Nigeria’s Growth and Challenges
Reflecting on Nigeria's journey since gaining independence in 1960, Tinubu praised the country’s resilience, noting that while much remains to be done, significant progress has been made. He commended Nigerians for their "can-do spirit," which has resulted in achievements in diverse fields such as arts, science, and technology, making Nigeria a beacon of hope for Africa and the world.
President Tinubu also emphasized the importance of embracing Nigeria’s diversity while striving for unity, recalling past crises such as the Nigerian Civil War. "Since then, we have learned to better manage our differences, and we continue to work towards a more perfect union," he stated.
Security and Economic Reforms
Addressing the country's security challenges, Tinubu declared that his administration is making significant strides in the fight against terrorism and banditry. He revealed that over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders had been eliminated in the past year, leading to restored peace in various northern communities.
“We are winning the war on terror and banditry,” Tinubu said. “It is an unfinished business, but we are committed to restoring peace and ensuring that our people can return to their farms and homes.”
On the economic front, the President detailed ongoing reforms aimed at addressing fiscal mismanagement and attracting foreign investments. Tinubu highlighted that Nigeria had attracted over $30 billion in foreign direct investment in the last year alone. He emphasized the need to continue with tough reforms to stabilize the economy and create long-term prosperity, warning that the country would face dire consequences if corrective actions were not taken.
Focus on Agriculture and Infrastructure
Tinubu also addressed the challenges posed by natural disasters, particularly recent flooding in several states. He outlined the government's response, including the establishment of a Disaster Relief Fund and integrity tests on dams to prevent future disasters. Additionally, he commended state governors for their role in advancing agricultural production and announced plans to establish a local assembly plant for 2,000 tractors and farm equipment within the next six months.
Empowering the Youth
A key highlight of Tinubu’s address was the announcement of a National Youth Conference aimed at empowering Nigeria’s youth. With young people making up over 60% of the population, the 30-day conference will focus on issues such as education, employment, innovation, and security.
“This conference will give our youth a platform to address their challenges and contribute to nation-building,” the President said, stressing that the government is committed to ensuring that the voices of young Nigerians are heard.
Tinubu also pointed to youth-centric programs such as the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) initiative and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as examples of how the government is providing opportunities for young Nigerians to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
In his concluding remarks, Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and resilient. "Better days are ahead of us," he assured. "The challenges we face now should not make us lose hope. We are Nigerians—resilient and tenacious. We will prevail and rise above our circumstances."
He called on all Nigerians to join him in working toward a brighter future, where every citizen can access opportunities and every child can grow up with hope and promise.
"Let us work together to build a greater Nigeria where every citizen has access to opportunities," Tinubu said, as he wished Nigerians a happy 64th Independence anniversary.
Independence Day: Nigeria Sitting On Keg Of Gunpowder — Obi
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi has warned that the nation was sitting on the keg of gun-powder.
The former Anambra State governor restated his support for protests staged by some youth groups and civil society organisations to mark the anniversary in expressing the anger over the level of hardship and bad governance in the country.
“One is not suggesting that a 64-year-old country has no right to congratulate itself but the question remains: are we congratulating ourselves for failure or for success?
“It is with this understanding that I support today’s protest, provided it remains peaceful. Nigerians must seize every opportunity to remind our leaders that we are all sitting on a keg of gunpowder in this country.
“What we truly need in Nigeria is mourning. We should have donned sackcloth and ashes today and not engage in march-past.
“Our leaders need to openly express remorse for the betrayal of so much faith and hope. Nigerians should have gathered under trees to review the state of the nation among themselves, striving to teach one another the lessons of history – the rise, progress, decay, and fall of nations, and how, through accidents, errors and foolishness prevalent in Nigeria over the years, these great changes and failures occurred,” Obi said.
He further explained that Nigerians through various social media platforms should remind one another that all the factors making for revolution were all evident today.
“We should also remind one another how revolutions commence and how they are carried out, and by what a fatal chain of circumstances the wisest men are driven far the limits of moderation, and by what impulses an enraged people is precipitated into excess at the very thought of which they would have shuddered,” the former presidential candidate said.
He added that how those failures may be repeated or avoided should importantly be discussed by Nigerians.
Obi stressed that, “We are at a crossroads. We know what is happening today, but no one can predict what tomorrow will bring.”
He then stressed the importance of the leadership that understands the reality of the nation’s situation and acts decisively to steer it in the right direction.
PDP Slams Tinubu’s Independence Day Speech, Calls it Insensitive to Nigerians' Plight
On the other hand, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Independence Day speech, accusing it of being filled with empty rhetoric, false claims, and an overall lack of responsiveness to the economic and security crises plaguing the country. In a strongly worded statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP labeled the speech as "another lethargic and windy rhetoric" that further demonstrated the insensitivity of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.
The PDP expressed disappointment in a statement by his spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba noted that the President’s address failed to provide any tangible solutions to the “myriads of economic and security problems” created by the APC government, adding that it only served to mislead Nigerians without addressing the urgent challenges the country faces. According to the PDP, the speech reflects an administration that is "overtly clueless, insensitive, and unresponsive" to the suffering of its citizens.
One of the key points raised by the PDP is the failure of the President to adequately respond to the worsening economic conditions that have led to widespread hardship, unemployment, and poverty. The party noted that despite promises of economic improvement, the speech did not offer any immediate solutions to alleviate the hardships faced by millions of Nigerians.
"President Tinubu’s speech practically trivialized the very grave issues of pervasive economic hardship, unemployment, acute poverty, widespread hunger, and starvation in our country," the statement read. The PDP cited the President’s claim that only 10% of Nigerians are affected by hunger, a figure they say grossly underestimates the reality, with over 100 million Nigerians struggling to afford daily meals and other basic necessities.
The PDP further criticized the speech for its failure to address the key economic drivers, particularly the price of fuel, which has skyrocketed under the APC administration. According to the opposition party, Tinubu's government has not taken any substantial steps to reduce the cost of living, increase employment, or stabilize the nation’s currency, the Naira. The statement highlighted the lack of investment in the productive sector, which has resulted in soaring prices and economic stagnation.
"The failure by Mr. President to listen to Nigerians and reduce the price of fuel, create employment, and lift the value of the Naira shows that the APC administration is completely disconnected from the real situation faced by the people," the PDP said.
The PDP also voiced concerns that the speech indicated a growing trend towards totalitarianism, where a select few benefit from the hardships faced by the majority of Nigerians. The opposition party expressed alarm at what it described as the administration’s attempt to stifle democracy by failing to address issues such as the erosion of credible elections and the violation of constitutionally guaranteed rights.
"The APC-led administration is determined to stifle our nation’s democracy," the statement read, adding that the President’s silence on these key democratic issues was telling.
In its closing remarks, the PDP urged Nigerians to remain calm despite their disappointment, while advising President Tinubu to step out of his "insulated bubble" and experience the real situation on the streets. The party suggested that the President visit markets and interact with youths to gain a true understanding of the hardships his policies have created.
The PDP's statement concludes by reaffirming its commitment to holding the APC government accountable and ensuring that Nigerians' voices are heard.
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