President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: One Month After -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

When Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) declared during the electioneering campaign period that it was his turn to govern Nigeria many Nigerians were outraged at his statement which seems to indicate that he had qualification or plan for governance other than a false of entitlement. But his supporters claimed that his statement connotes preparedness for leadership. But the analysis of the BAT steps so far after taken oath of office as the 16^th President of the country a month ago on the 29^th of June, 2023 indicate that the former group was right about BAT’s lack of preparedness and requisite qualities for the leadership of the country. And yet his supporters and media hirelings are saying that one month is too short to appraise him but at the same they sounding off about his phantom performance and exhibition of courage.

The sound bites from his speeches both at the inauguration ceremony, the Democracy Day cerebration, the Sallah message were nothing to cheer about. It was about the usual platitudes of “I will” statements. There were all promises: no concrete plan, no strategy to transform words into action. His speeches were not different from the usual campaign statements and opposition propaganda. It was all motion without movement. Any person coming into an office especially that of the president should have a clear idea of what to do from the outset and is expected to hit the ground running. Tinubu’s steps in the first thirty indicate that either he did not know what is expected of him or he lacks the wherewithal to perform. Tinubu has not addressed the major issues affecting the nation like insecurity, economic crisis, oil theft and the issue of restructuring the polity.

The huffish manner in which he treated the burning issue of the removal of subsidy from petroleum products speaks volume about his style of leadership. Removing subsidy without appropriate measures to cushion the effects on the citizenry, smacks of insensitivity and unpreparedness for governance on the part of the government to which Tinubu is the head. It also smacks of inconsistency and hypocrisy coming from the backdrop of the fact that the same Tinubu held the country hostage eleven years ago in 2012 when he led a nationwide protest against the same policy he is regaling about now.

President Tinubu told Nigerians that the current suffering he foisted on Nigerians is necessary and yet from all indications, he and those in government seem not to be making any sacrifice. The same profligacy to which the moribund Buhari regime is known has continued unabated. It was in the news that a whooping sum of #24billion Naira has been approved for just the housing allowance of the newly elected legislators. There was also the news that plans are underway to increase the salaries of government functionaries by 114% while the masses are languishing in misery. It appears that Tinubu is unperturbed about the economy and the mounting national debt as it was reported that the World Bank has approved the advancement of $500billion loan to Nigerian government. Perhaps when we watch the video clips of Tinubu’s convoy of over 200 vehicles from the Airport to his Ikoyi residence we would better understand the level of profligacy of the current regime. The world is talking about lean government but it appears Tinubu’s plan about reducing wastages exists only in the realms of rhetoric.

Yes, Tinubu is following very closely the footsteps of his predecessor whose outmoded policies he had pledged to sustain. In the first one month of his leadership, he spent more than one-third of the time outside the country. In a world leaders’ conference that he attended in France, he refused to take part in the strategic session but instead sent an ambassador to represent him and when opportunity calls for him to market his country as leaders do he chose to justify his vengeful action against the erstwhile Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele claiming that he removed Emefiele because of the rot in our financial system. How does Mr. Tinubu want investors to come and invest in a rotten system? I hope Nigeria has not sworn in another tourist president who will be touring the world for sightseeing and for medical treatment instead of governance.

Another area in which Tinubu has taken the footsteps of Buhari is in the area of political appointment. So far, he has made over fifty appointments. The analyses clearly show that the appointments were lopsided in favor of the Southwest just as Buhari did for Northwest in his time. This is not good for the Nigeria of today that is divided along tribal and religious line. Nigeria needs nothing less than a government of national unity; an inclusive government that will represent every interest.

Another issue that needs to be mentioned in this piece is that of the suspension and arrest of Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the former CBN boss. The arrest was vengeful and ill-advised as opined by many. It is alleged in some quarters and there are reasons to believe that the travails of Mr. Emefiele is connected with the CBN’s currency redesign and cash swap policy done shortly before the general election; an exercise that was intended to curb electoral malfeasance and to which Tinubu and his team vehemently opposed. And that was why Tinubu has also ordered the arrest of Mr. Bawa the former EFCC boss whom it was revealed originated the idea of currency redesign in a memo to the Federal Government. This is official high-handedness. Tinubu should not use state power to pursue personal vendetta. It is an abuse of office.

I hope that with the turnout of things Nigeria will relapse into the old era of impunity, mediocrity and ineptitude. Nigeria does not need another apartheid regime. Nigeria does not need politics of bitterness and rancor. Nigeria needs unity, economic progress and peaceful co-existence. This can only come when we have statesmen, patriotic citizens and leaders with vision at the helm of affairs. And Tinubu has not demonstrated any of these attributes in the steps that he has taken so far and it is unfortunate.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK