Since 1960 when Nigeria gained her independence, the country has witnessed different government dispensations, both civilian and military. 63 years down the line, the Nigeria that Nigerians have always dreamt of is yet to come. Even with 24 years of unbroken democracy, Nigeria still punches below her weight.
Government come and go, but the path to the most populous black nation on earth taking her place among the comity of nations, appears to have remained topsy-turvy. With a new government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in power, can Nigeria’s story change?
A political scientist, Larry Danjuma has this to say, “I am yet to see practical steps taken by this administration to deal decisively with Nigeria’s problems. One may say that it is too early to expect change, but the truth is that Nigerians have no time to waste. The nation is at the brink of collapse.
“What Nigeria needs in a leader now are commitment, sincerity of purpose and above all, pragmatism, to turn things around. In my own assessment, President Tinubu is just too cold for the Nigerian reality. Yes, change can’t happen overnight, but we need to feel the energy that things are about to take a different dimension.
“Mr. President upon assumption of duty, has met with some key stakeholders including security chiefs, some governors as well as management of CBN and NNPC. But I must tell you that we need more than meetings and resolutions. Implementation is more important to us. So many meetings have birthed so many resolutions in this country, yet, the political will to implement them is always the problem.
“I commend him for saying that his government will recognise both the new and old Naira notes as legal tender. At the same time, I expected him to apply the same precision and promptness he used in pronouncing the removal of subsidy, in declaring state of emergency in areas such as education, power, production, security, among others, ” he said.
On the removal of fuel subsidy, Most Reverend Abiodun Taiwo Olaoye, Archbishop of Ibadan Province and Bishop of Osun North Anglican Diocese, said he should have worked out modalities for efficient and transparent implementation before making the pronouncement.
He said, “I think he should have first of all set up a committee to look into it. I mean a body of people who are really sincere and want his government to make progress and not those who are eating from the subsidy fraud.
“He should have first put up the committee to know how much the subsidy gulps and how much it should really be costing the government, not the over-bloated figures. You know, everything is seriously inflated in Nigeria today.”
The clergyman also enjoined President Tinubu to pick the best hands to work with him, “The first counsel I will give him is in the choice of his ministers and all other people that will be working with him. He should not use politics to make his choice. He should endeavour to pick the round pegs in the round holes,” he said.
Recall that Tinubu has made few appointments upon assumption of duty. Recently, he named current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila as his Chief of Staff, Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, as Deputy Chief of Staff, and former Governor of Benue State and immediate past Minister of Special Duties, George Akume, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Reverend Olaoye also suggested restructuring as the way for Nigeria to go. According to him, I think one of the things he can do to warm his way into the hearts of those against his presidential ambition is to restructure the country. This has been the yearning of many aggrieved Nigerians, and if it is done, it will really help us.
The president can lay hands on the report of the 2014 Constitutional Conference, so let him make use of it. Let’s go back to the regional system of government, which brought the government closer to the people, instead of this skewed presidential system that we practice, which is highly expensive. The good thing about restructuring is that each region or state will be able to develop at its own pace,” he posited.
In the words of Chinua Achebe, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” Indeed, Nigeria can no longer afford another term of leadership failure.
