- He stated that Tinubu should have consulted with the governors before he addressed the nation, adding that the President’s speech did not reflect the reality on ground.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has chastised President Bola Tinubu over the recent nationwide broadcast amid the ongoing nationwide protests.
The governor said the speech leaves much to be desired and he is disappointed as it shows that the president is disconnected from the true situation of things in the country.
Mohammed expressed his disappointment while addressing journalists at the end of an emergency security council meeting held at the Government House, Bauchi, on Monday.
He stated that Tinubu should have consulted with the governors before he addressed the nation, adding that the President’s speech did not reflect the reality on ground.
The Bauchi state government on m declared a 24-hour curfew in Katagum LGA after protests degenerated into of a full-blown melee and unrest in Azare, headquarters of Katagum.
Hoodlums were said to have taken advantage of the protest to vandalise the Government House Annex and the house of a former deputy governor of the state, broke shops, and looted properties.
Mohammed, when asked what he has to say about the President ‘s address, said, “I’m not a spokesperson of the Presidency but I certainly know that the speech of the President was very empty”
He said the speech, instead of dousing tension and calming frayed nerves, aggravated the situation, adding that security chiefs and heads of security agencies did not show empathy and sound reasoning in their speech.
“It has rather escalated the whole situation because he would have listened to the governors who are his first line of charge, first line of commanders at the sub-national level so that we can give him what is going on because we also listen to our local government chairmen.
“All the President’s commanders, the Police commissioners, Brigade commanders, we are working together with all of them.
“However, they went and spoke in a manner that has not shown empathy or sympathy to the youth.”
Addressing the destruction of government properties in Katagum LGA, Mohammed said the state government had an extended emergency security council meeting that brought all the stakeholders, including security agencies, traditional institutions and religious groups to address the situation.
According to him, the peaceful protest is a clear demonstration that government at all levels has failed in the discharge of constitutional and statutory responsibilities