We celebrate these two turbulent years of the Tinubu administration not because our nation has been navigated out of the woods completely, not because our people aren’t complaining, not because a bag of rice has been affordable for the ordinary man though it’s now gradually becoming affordable, not because those young Nigerians who were promised leadership tomorrow several decades ago are now indeed leaders today. We celebrate not because our economy is the best that it could be, yes, our inflation levels remain at 24% percent. We celebrate not because corruption has been eliminated, not because our national grid has not broken down about thrice since this administration. We celebrate not because we now buy a litre of fuel at a hundred Naira after subsidy removal, not because our various institutions have performed perfectly. We celebrate not because we have managed to obliterate Boko Haram, Banditry and the wicked acts of kidnapping across our nation. We celebrate, not because our health system has suddenly become world class all round and is accessible to our suffering people.
I’ll tell you why we celebrate!
We celebrate because for the first time since Chief Obafemi Awolowo modelled the Southwest Region as the benchmark for development in our nation several decades ago, we now have a leader who is working hard to rebuild the faulty foundations of our nation despite unimaginable challenges and antagonisms. We celebrate because finally, we have a leader who has acted boldly against the enemies of our nation who have posed as friends for many years. We celebrate because Nigeria now has an unafraid and seasoned hardworking politician who is doing everything possible to fix the endless chaos and battles that have held our nation bound.
We understand the hate associated with his name (no nation ever loved a reformer at first) but the ignoramus expectation that he could have solved all our nation’s ills in two years with Harry Potter or Dumbledore’s magic wands says more about those who indulge in such delusions of the greatest grandiosity the world has ever seen.
Tinubu is not a fool, he knows what dangers this reforms pose for his political aspirations. He could have continued with the rot, he could have allowed Nigeria to fall over the cliffs edge whilst covering up the rot with lies like our previous leaders did. He rather chose to do the difficult things, deal with our powerful meddling governors who previous Presidents were afraid of usually just to keep them happy in order to secure their reelection. Asiwaju has not sold his soul because of reelection, He put our nation ahead of his personal political aspirations. He could have glossed over the ills of our nation and dug us deeper into the abyss. He chose our nation ahead of the goodwill he could have gained by lying to us like those before him did.
Today, we are witnessing the birth of an accidental coalition, one destined for a collision with the Caterpillar of our nation’s destiny. They somehow shamelessly have imposed on themselves the mission to “Save Nigeria”. Really! Save Nigeria from being rebuilt from the rubble they left behind? Let’s be real for once, any Nigerian who somehow saw hope for our nation in that hall where the Coalition gangsters met is absolutely delusional and a major part of our nation’s problem.
So, they want to “Save Nigeria” from what exactly?
Local government autonomy?
The bounce back of our oil sector after subsidy removal making the NNPC a true asset and not a liability to our nation?
Working refineries?
A resurgent economy?
Respectable and sustainable debt repayments?
The most ambitious and most sensible tax reform agenda in our nation’s history to protect low income households?
The cleanup of our monitary systems and CBN?
A complete halt to the culture of “Ways and Means” in other words, a complete stop to unbridled quantitative easing practices that previous administrations used to print and steal money in the name of paying our nation’s bills.
A stable and flourishing stock market?
Sustainable Tax waiver policy for impactful manufacturing, technological and agricultural investors?
Best GDP in a decade?
An eventually stable Naira devoid of being subsidised significantly?
Student loan?
Grants to Technical college students?
Greatest and most ambitious infrastructural revolution in our lation since the western region?
Though still less than our need, 1500Mw have been added to our grid. Putting that in perspective, we added only 20000Mw in 40yrs.
Diversion of subsidy funds to multiple increase in state’s monthly allocations? Have you asked your governors what they’re doing with those funds?
The stability of our nation which is a major driving force for foreign investment?
Free cesarean section for pregnant women initiative plus more health insurance coverage?
New Regional Development Commissions established?
Again, what exactly are they looking to save Nigeria from? If after these was achieved in two years, all you still think about is Obi or Atiku, you truly need a system reset. Where were these two when this president was setting the stage for the prosperous Lagos State that we see today? Those who are kicking today should ask themselves, when they had the exact same opportunities Asiwaju had as a two term governor, or as vice president for two terms what did they do? Where is the blueprint they conceptualised for leadership succession, economic progression, infrastructural developments and strategic mentorship?.
Who did they mentor and where are the individuals they raised and prepared for leadership roles in order to secure our nations political future?Whoever isn’t happy about Tinubu’s politics and Nigeria’s trajectory today after two years of his presidency has a right to their sadness. You may not particularly fancy the man but have you had to confront a Nigerian president as powerful and influential as Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was and won before? this was even when he had no federal might. Once again, today I join many who see and appreciate the great efforts this administration is making in its determination to rebuild our nation to wish our president well.
Finally, I join the Nigerian Financial Times who took to their editorial which I read a couple of days ago to wish the president well and to encourage him not to relent in his transformative agenda for our nation. Yes, It must be difficult for the President as a politician knowing a lot of our people aren’t directly feeling or seeing the effects of this reforms today hereby fueling their anger, I however, urge him to remain resolute, steadfast and unwavering in his determination to truly save our nation from returning to the abyss our previous leaders have plunged us.
By Victor Olusegun Oluwole
