•Demands political, economic leadership from president
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has criticised the speech by President Bola Tinubu on Democracy Day wherein he had demanded sacrifice from ordinary citizens of the country in the face of ongoing economic hardship without seeking same from the political and economic leadership of the country.
The CSJ also criticised the speech for failing to provide solutions to the most pressing issues facing Nigerians, such as the rising cost of living, the widespread insecurity, and the lack of basic infrastructure.
A statement yesterday, which was signed by the Lead Director of the Centre, Eze Onyekpere read: “The CSJ welcomes President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech. While we appreciate the acknowledgment of the hardship faced by the Nigerian people, the speech failed to provide solutions to the most pressing issues facing Nigerians, such as the rising cost of living, the widespread insecurity, and the lack of basic infrastructure.
“President Tinubu’s request for ordinary Nigerians to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country was not matched with unequivocal sacrifices to be made by the political and economic leadership of the country.
“The present scenario where only the poorest of the poor and some segments of the middle class are asked to deepen sacrifice whilst the political class continues on the path of self-indulgence is not the way forward for economic regeneration.”
Eze added that: “President Tinubu highlighted the removal of fuel subsidy as a necessary step to free up resources for collective use, which had previously been pocketed by a privileged few.
“While we understand the intention behind this decision, it is crucial to emphasise that the burden of sacrifice should be shared by all, including the leadership. Furthermore, concrete steps must be taken to ensure that the sacrifices made by the people are not in vain.
“CSJ urges the government to prioritise the welfare of the Nigerian people and implement immediate measures to provide relief and support in various aspects of their lives.
“We recognise the President’s promise to invest in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare, and other public utilities to improve the quality of lives.”
It added: “However, we stress the importance of translating these promises into actionable plans with clear timelines and effective implementation strategies.
“Nigerians need more than just assurances; they require tangible solutions that will alleviate their current suffering and provide them with hope for a brighter future.
“We call on President Tinubu and his administration to engage in open dialogue with civil society organisations, trade unions, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive and inclusive policies that prioritise the needs of the Nigerian people.
“Leadership should be by transparent examples where the followers see the leaders in the front line of sacrifice and contributions to economic growth and development.”
