Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Good Governance advocate and former Minister for Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on how to handle the nationwide protest against bad governance.
Ezekwesiri who took to her X handle, advised the President against snubbing the angry protesters but to listen to their demands and take concrete actions towards meeting the demands.
The former Minister who expressed displeasure over the lack of economic direction by the Tinubu-led administration, called on the President to cautiously deal with the on-going nationwide anger against his Government.
Ezekwesili maintained that the supremacy resides with the people, adding that, “no Leaders have ever won against their people.”
She further said: “When a People tell their Leaders that they are hungry and angry because you have governed them badly, the wise thing to do is not to shut them up, threaten, taunt and brutalize them thereby demonstrating a tragic empathy deficit syndrome.
“The wise things to do are: Listen. Listen. Listen. Persuade with Factual Counterpoint. Present Convincing Plan of Action. Mobilize the People to “Arise and Build!”
“The @NigeriaGov @NGRPresident @nassnigeria and Governors of State and their State Assemblies still have an opportunity to do the right things by their Citizens who are asking them to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria:
“1. Use it as the ‘Golden Moment of Opportunity’ for a Reset of Nigeria being offered by our Citizens and launch a credible National Conversation on the Most Effective Structure and Direction for Good Governance at all levels for productivity, competitiveness, prosperity, justice, equity, equality, order, peace, harmony, stability and resilience.
“2. Come out to the Protest Grounds all over the Country and ENGAGE your Citizens. Hear them express their Demands to you directly. Do not lock yourselves away behind the High Gates of your publicly-funded State and Government houses enjoying indulgent lives while your Citizens are crying out in pain from the severity of economic hardship. Come out.
“The Choice is in your hands still.”
