Opposition gang-up against Tinubu|Emmanuel oladesu
The main issue in Nigeria’s politics of today is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The only question, as it was raised in the days of indomitable Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is whether you are with him or against him.
Indeed, as the leader of Africa’s most complex, heterogeneous and populous country, many, particularly the eligible voters, are with him. They voted for him. They trust him to deliver. They understand him. They know his administration is working for all. They take him seriously. They have confidence in his ability. Many of them are conversant with the constraints he faces. They believe that he is the solution centre – a leader who cares for the people.
But the voices of the multitudes are not heard on radio and television stations, and their presence is not well felt in the social media.
In contrast, a few desperate politicians, particularly the gang of defeated opponents who are in despair over their electoral loss, are against him and eager to sustain the peculiar rivalry in the post-election period when politics should have given way for governance.
Curiously, these principals and principalities of Nigeria are consistently loud in the adversarial media; they are permanently bitter, combative and manipulative. They are unpretentious about their subjective analysis, diversionary in their antics and focused on hijacking power, not for a patriotic desire to offer service to the masses but because they are driven by ego and self-serving agenda.
Their disillusioned, petulant and delusional patrons – the ex-this and ex-that – devote a residue of energy in their blissful retirement to war-mongering, firing salvos from their comfort zones on borrowed platforms and delivering virulent criticisms to pull down, unconscious of the fact that the shaky foundation they had laid while in power, the decisive step they failed to take in the past and the treasury they pillaged through their penchant for primitive accumulation, have landed the bewildered country in a big and deep mess which the current administration is now clearing.
In their rage, hate, envy and greed, they embark on destructive propaganda, taking along with them a few gullible social media miscreants who are enveloped in amnesia. In the past, particularly in 2023, they failed, and now, with bruised egos, they are on the prowl like a wounded lion, seeking whom to devour. But they are caged by conscience, which delivers a judgment of guilt for past misuse of power, and that internal version of self-punishment is troubling. Since their one-day, ephemeral coalition is not founded on strong principles, truth, sound convictions, progressive intent, and national interest, they will inevitably fail again.
A political party is an umbrella for politicians who are united by similarity of ideas, principles and ethos, which outline its focus and direction. The question is: Which idea is uniting the coalition of actors nursing electoral injuries? While in power, they misruled the country, thereby becoming a liability to the people. Outside the corridor of power, they are heating the polity. Their tactics are old-fashioned, clearly outdated.
Is it not confounding that opposition figures who cannot effectively manage their parties are seeking alliance with other smaller and dwarf parties? What is the attraction?
To lead Nigeria in this trying time is the special assignment allotted by God and fate to President Tinubu, who has been anchoring the rescue mission and struggling to recover the country from the jaws of saboteurs, the unpatriotic actors who delude themselves into thinking or believing that Nigeria is their personal property.
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The so-called fledging opposition is devoid of clarity of thoughts and superior arguments, and the message of their leaders lacks appeal. They are aggrieved and disgruntled as former men of power now left in the cold outside power. Their target is to bounce back to continue the liquidation of Nigeria.
Tinubu is poles apart, clearly delineated from his conservative rivals by his power of ideas. He is an experienced, intelligent, courageous, focused, dynamic and result-oriented patriot, whose preoccupation for now is clearing the Augean stable, resetting the socio-economic order, pursuing reforms and fulfilling his campaign promises through the implementation of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’
A thinker, strategist, tactician and master of the game, his political and public service career are somewhat puzzling due to certain factors. His path and rise to stardom, despite the vicissitudes of life, have been unique, inspiring and instructive. The summary is that Tinubu has a rare divine grace to overcome obstacles and survive tribulations, and his uncanny capacity to always thrive in adversity is a core attribute of exceptionality.
Those ganging up against the President recognise his potential. They know his ability. They know they can only underrate him to their peril. They also know that the Commander-in-Chief is fully in charge and cannot be tossed around by any cabal. They are jealous of his achievements in the last 22 months, particularly the bold reforms that are yielding positive and progressive results and other decisive steps that have checkmated and prevented them from appropriating the economic privileges and cornering public resources to the detriment of the masses. Therefore, they are working assiduously to create an imaginary hollow in the scorecard of the administration.
Tinubu’s past accomplishments accounted for his towering profile as a political colossus. On the slippery political field, he had firmly established himself as a pro-democracy crusader, a democrat, a federalist, an astute administrator, financial surgeon, humanist, philanthropist, a workaholic, and a bold, brave and articulate political actor with a huge brain.
An extraordinary statesman, he fully understands the grammar of politics: power is not served a la carte. Politically, he is consistent and dependable. Also, because he needs people, he groomed them for leadership. A very tolerant and accommodating leader, the Jagaban Borgu is quite electrifying.
Loyalty is important in politics. But Tinubu is conversant with the influence and constraints of human nature. Thus, he said he was prepared for betrayals. That is anticipatory. It makes him a realist. But he never held grudges permanently because he also planned for forgiveness.
Courage, determination, resilience, devotion to principles and commitment to the high ideals of democracy are the virtues that have defined and shaped the character of the enigma and icon in the 35 years of his sojourn in politics. His rise to presidential power underscores the triumph of a dynamic, resilient, consummate and total politician who has miraculously traversed the thorny path of life and triumphed to fame and glory.
He had made his mark in the reshaping of Nigeria as an agitator, senator, governor, and opposition leader. That is why the eyes of the world are now on him as the leader of the most important country in Africa to build on his previous feats.
In this way, the President is living up to expectations. For him, May 29, 2023, was a defining moment and a turning point in the nation’s history. On his inauguration day, he said ‘subsidy is gone.’ By halting the fuel subsidy regime, which had enriched a privileged few at the expense of the generality of Nigerians, he offended some “powerful” power brokers. It was a decisive step which jolted the profiteers. The negative effect has been colossal, but there is an assurance that it will fizzle out and Nigerians will savour the multiple gains of increased revenue in the national treasury as they are being appropriately channeled into people-oriented developmental programmes.
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The challenge of innovation is always resisted by those who profit from the status quo, apparently due to the fear of change. The profiteers started resisting, but the President refused to take the country backward.
The President set up a cabinet of talent, equity and inclusion, which was also gender-sensitive. Women and youths ended their complaints about marginalisation.
President Tinubu anchored his policies and programmes on his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,’ which was carefully thought out and dictated by needs analysis and popular expectations. His government does not belong to the club of the clueless.
President Tinubu made a promise to transform the economy. He terminated the Multiple Foreign Exchange systems, which “had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our nation and impeded our economic development and progress”.
Infrastructural development is accorded priority, being a key factor in guaranteeing a favourable atmosphere for business and investment. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal and Sokoto-Badagry highways are among the outstanding signature projects of his administration. They constitute a major expansion that would enhance the ease of movement of goods and services across four zones.
There is now an increased oil production to more than 1.61 million barrels per day, and Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) of over $500 million have been attracted into the sector.
The Compressed Natural Gas Initiative was launched to power the transportation sector and reduce costs. President Tinubu said: “This will save over N2 trillion a month, being used to import PMS and AGO.”
A major feat of the administration is the setting up of the Student Loan Scheme in aid of indigent students. Under the scheme, the Federal Government has approved over N95.6 billion for Nigerian students. The scheme satisfies the yearning for youth inclusion. Besides, the President has unfolded plans to set up a National Youth Conference to serve as a platform for the younger generation to make cogent contributions to governance.
Also, more tertiary institutions have been established in a bid to expand access to education and human capital development.
The Consumer Credit Corporation was established with over N200 billion “to help Nigerians acquire essential products without the need for immediate cash payments, making life easier for millions of households”.
The Federal Government is also building support for ‘Digital and Creative Enterprises’ to empower the youth, creating millions of IT and technical jobs. This is in addition to the ‘Skill-Up Artisans Programme,’ the Nigerian Youth Academy, and the National Youth Talent Export Programme – all for the nation’s teeming youths.
Under the Livelihood Support Scheme, over N570 billion was released to the 36 states to expand livelihood support for their citizens, while 600,000 nano-businesses have benefitted from the administration’s nano-grants.
The Federal Government has reduced the Revenue/ Debt Service Ratio from 97 per cent to 68 per cent in the first year of this administration.
President Tinubu signed into law the National Minimum Wage of N70,000 last year. It was a milestone, and the move has drastically reduced labour unrest.
His administration has approved and begun the payment of N77,000 as an allowance to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members across the country. This has sent a wave of joy among the youths serving their fatherland.
To resuscitate the moribund manufacturing sector, the government also set in motion the process of giving N1 billion each to big businesses for expansion. The move is expected to lead to job creation on a grand scale.
Tariffs and import duties on essential commodities, including rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, drugs, and other pharmaceutical and medical supplies, were reduced.
The Federal Government under President Tinubu has offered numerous incentives to farmers across the country to increase food production and make foodstuffs affordable to the citizens. Also, mechanised farming equipment, such as tractors and planters, worth billions of naira, have been procured from the United States, Belarus, and Brazil.
The President has waged a relentless war against terror. The military has been equipped to tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and other forms of violence that threaten our sovereignty and peaceful living.
In the health sector, facilities are being expanded, and there is a drastic cut in the cost of treatment for terminal and other life-threatening diseases, including kidney transplant, hypertension and diabetes.
No government has ever solved all the nation’s challenges at once. But it is on record that the Tinubu administration has recorded far better achievements within two years in office than its predecessors. The programmes and policies of this administration can only get better. The President is not unmindful of some other areas that need attention. He is ready to proffer solutions to the challenges. But he needs Nigerians to work with him to record more successes. This way, those rocking the boat will fall into the ocean of ignominy, and this focused captain will sail the ship of state to glorious shores.
Credit:The Nation