Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that President Bola Tinubu should not be held responsible for the widespread hardship that led to the recent nationwide protests. In an interview with Radio France RFI Hausa Service, monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna on Sunday, Shettima emphasized that Tinubu’s administration is actively working to address the country’s challenges.
Shettima attributed the nation’s current difficulties to years of poor governance and mismanagement, noting that it is unrealistic to expect Tinubu to reverse these issues within a single year.
He recalled that thousands of Nigerians took to the streets in major towns and cities across the country to express their dissatisfaction with the soaring inflation and high cost of living, which have driven more people into poverty. Shettima affirmed that the right to protest is enshrined in the constitution, and the Tinubu-led government fully supports citizens exercising this right.
However, he expressed concern that the protests could be hijacked by individuals with malicious intentions, potentially leading to chaos and unrest. Shettima explained, “In a democracy, citizens have the right to voice their grievances peacefully. Our concern is to prevent politicians with bad intentions and hoodlums from turning peaceful protests into anarchy. Unfortunately, this is what happened.”
He reassured that President Tinubu respects the rights of all citizens but acknowledged that the situation that unfolded was unfortunate and troubling for both society and the government.
Addressing the removal of the oil subsidy and the resulting hardships, Shettima stated, “We understand the suffering of the people—they are our friends, our neighbors. We are fully aware of their struggles. But the reality is that the mistakes of the past 63 years cannot be undone in just one year. Nevertheless, as the current leaders, it is our responsibility to take the necessary steps to help our people, and we are committed to doing so, in shaa Allah.”
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