Gov Bala Mohammed slams Tinubu’s economic policies amid protests

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, blaming them for increasing pain, hunger, and anger among citizens.

This discontent has been cited as a driving force behind the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests.

Governor Mohammed expressed dissatisfaction with President Tinubu’s recent address to the nation, stating that it failed to adequately address the grievances of the protesting youths, who are demonstrating against widespread hunger and hardship. Mohammed emphasized the need for more effective measures to alleviate the economic challenges faced by Nigerians and called for policies that directly benefit the people. This criticism reflects broader concerns about the government’s response to the country’s economic difficulties and the resulting public unrest.

Mohammed, speaking on Wednesday when he flagged off the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) campaign for the August 17 local government election in the state, said:

“I listened with all attention to the speech of Mr. President, and I said, with humility and courage, that what he said was empty! It did not agree with the situation. It did not address the problem and challenges. The problems are not youths only, it’s for us as leaders – from the President to sub-national levels and to the local government, and we can see the manifestations with different colorations – from the North to the South.

“In the North, there is a very big wake-up call for us to bring good governance, to respect people. There is hunger and anger. We have to really address our problem of development. Unemployment is everywhere, our educational system is not working.

“The new policies of the federal government are not working. They have to understand that. It is their problem. It is their programmes that have caused us these problems, so they have to change.”

The governor said that the state government is ready to change its ways to bring good governance “and not to think it is time to pass the buck and blame the governors or local governments.”

“I have heard, and with regrettable attention, some of the ministers of the federal government that are saying that we have been given 70 trucks, N570bn, how much did the federal government get?

“Why should they bring policies that are causing pain? On your behalf, I’m telling Mr. President, Tinubu, to change his policy because it’s not working. Anything he does affects us in every corner, in every political party, as our leader.”