Buhari’s speech should have been more paternal, says Nwodo

• President told the youths they are sitting on a keg of gun powder — Ogunsanwo

MORE eminentNigerians have continued to berate President Buhari’s broadcast yesterday, as lacking in empathy and undemocratic in tone and character.

President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia John Nwodo, said Buhari’s speech lacks the kind of empathy Nigerians and the #EndSARS protesters wanted to hear.

The 11-minute speech was meant to have assuaged the angers and frustrations of youths encapsulated in the two-week #EndSARS/#EndBadGovernance protests staged in many capital cities of the country, especially in the southern part. 

Speaking on Channels television’s Daily Sunrise programme today, Nwodo, a former minister, said: “Buhari speech should have been more paternal.”

He continued, “Though, the #EndSARS started well at the initial stage before they were infiltrated, by hoodlums; even that is a failure of our security,” he said.

On the issue of the attempt by some unscrupulous Nigerians to pit the Yoruba against Igbo, the Ohanaeze president said he is happy that Yoruba leaders did not buy into the propaganda being pursued by forces aiming to set the two tribes against each other.

In similar vein, Nwodo noted the ethnic colouration being injected into report on the incident that happened in Abuja on October 20, in which over 200 cars were burnt to ashes.

“The failure of security can be seen with the burning of car marts belonging largely to Ibos in Abuja.”

Channel television’s analyst,  Jide Ogunsanwo, appearing on same programme after Nwodo,  said  the president’s speech gave a message that told the youths that they are “sitting on melting ice” in response to the youths’ message to him that he is “sitting on a keg of gun powder.”

Ogunsanwo believed the President’s messaging needs to be better managed and packaged with substantial amount of empathy filled with motivating components that would “give hope and calm nerves.”  He argued that Buhari’s communication online must be properly examined.

“His online communications has been deficient. It’s either his handlers are not doing enough or his communication management is flawed,” He said.

Nwodo’s statement is only in line with similar criticisms that have trailed the President’s speech since it was delivered yesterday.

The critics faulted the president’s speech for not addressing  plights of victims of the violent  actions that have defined the recent days of the protests that had engulfed

Most of the critics were unhappy with the failure of the speech to reference the Tuesday, October 20 shooting of protesters at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos by men in military uniform.

Nwodo is known to have always faulted President Buhari’s reactions to unpleasant developments in the polity in recent times.

In response to the President’s Independence Day speech of October 1, a furious Nwodo described it  as  “hollow and empty. “

Stated Nwodo then, “The only new thing was his expressing a desire for a peaceful, united nation. But, how can you ensure peace in a divided country? How can he talk of unity in a country that the only persons qualified to hold and enjoy federal appointments in the country are only Fulani?

“The speech was an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians other than Fulani. Who is deceiving who? He still has a window of opportunity to ameliorate the situation by rescinding some of his decisions and ensuring a more balanced administration,” he said.