Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the flagbearer of the Lagos State Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, has voiced his concerns on President Bola Tinubu’s speech to the country on Sunday, August 4, 2024.
“I’ll tell you why the President’s speech was so disappointing,” he stated. This administration had around a month’s notice to organise a response or gauge public sentiment, so it was disheartening.
He said that because Nigerians have been outspoken about the challenges they face, the protest had been building. Rhodes-Vivour pointed out that President Tinubu had the chance to gain insight from Kenya’s experience as well as the actions taken by President William Ruto to address the pressing needs of the country, in reference to the recent protests in Kenya.
He lambasted President Tinubu for his lack of empathy in the speech, calling it propaganda and even implying that the real worries of Nigerians were driven by politics. Additionally, Rhodes-Vivour noted that Tinubu omitted to mention how the government would cut back on spending or provide a plan for the future management of public funds.