By: Dr Barr. Uche Maduemesi

Let me confess, I went to church last Sunday, 4th August, 2024 but spent the whole period reading over and over again the full text of President Ahmed Tinubu’s interventionist address this morning. I was straining my eyes to see where he addressed some of, if not all, the issues the protesters are demanding. Unfortunately, I could not see any.

One striking point I was expecting him to use the golden opportunity to address was the issue of the refinery his family members bought in Malta through which petroleum products are being imported into the country. And, subsidy being paid his family. Remember, fuel subsidies had been removed, he told us in his inaugural address as the president of Nigeria. But, here he is paying subsidy to himself, according to those who claimed to know .I expected him to deny his complicity in the obviously shady deal. He didn’t. And since Aliko Dangote lifted the importation veil, the National Assembly have not said anything.

In saner climes, it was enough to commence impeachment proceedings. But, we are in a paddy paddy country where laws are made for different classes of people and corruption our middle names. President Tinubu has shown that he is not in touch with the happenings in the country. Apparently, like his predecessor, he is not perusing the media. He should have read or watched the people’s remarks and reactions and use them to couch his address to the nation.

This is a precarious stage and time in our nation that all deft moves should have been employed to speak to the issues raised and in the front burner of public discourse. His address did not and does not impact on the situation on the ground, except rhetoric. My thoughts.

Dr Maduemesi wrote in from Enugu

Source: Drumnewsonline