From Baba Go Slow To Baba Going Very Fast -By Bilyamin Abdulmumin

Buhari was overwhelmingly labeled as reluctant, while Tinubu was a tit-for-tat. Tinubu has shown to be decisive on many occasions. For instance, when there was a public outcry over his Kano ministerial nominee, Dr. Maryam Shettima, he quickly replaced her with Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, who had more public acceptance. Buhari would have likely stuck with Shettima.

A few months after the ministers assumed office, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, a ministry infamous for waywardness—was caught in multiple scandals. In a swift response to public outrage, Tinubu suspended Betta Edu, and from all likelihood, she has gone for good.

No situation highlights the difference between Tinubu and Buhari more than the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State involving Governor Fubara and his former benefactor Nelson Wike. While Buhari would have given deaf ears to the situation, Tinubu reacted most decisively. Those who once descended on Buhari for his passive leadership should now give a standing ovation to Tinubu’s stern,  control and decisiveness.

Nevertheless, Tinubu’s speech during the emergency declaration was notably one-sided. He was overtaken by siding with his FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, heaping a pile of blame on Fubara for demolishing national assembly structures and failing to address pipeline bombings—while completely ignoring Wike’s role in the crisis. This bolstered accusations of federal government highhandedness in the Nigerian most populous states.

Some argue that the federal government has a hand in debacles rocking the Rivers, Lagos, and Kano which stems from its fear of losing the key states to the opposition. However, as APC states the Lagos government’s internal conflicts allegations do not add up. Since the state belongs to the ruling party it’s just another political facade from the federal government.

A major trouble for Tinubu’s camp is their stance on Fubara and Uba Sani. If they oppose Fubara they should also oppose Uba Sani. You cannot back Wike in Rivers while opposing El-rufai in Kaduna. The two scenarios bore a striking resemblance.

Looking back at how Nigerians knocked Buhari for not being quick, swift, and showing total control like a Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, it is safe to say that Tinubu has now fit the clamor.