I am a proud and unabashed long time political ally or, ,better put, political protege of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A huge number of those of us who have remained steadfast in our loyalty to him till date, have traveled a long, tortious but rewarding journey under his tutelage and dynamic leadership. In other words, he wrought us in the crucible of real politik and we are the better for it today.
In my own case, for instance, I was the pioneer National Vice Chairman (North-west) of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), which President Tinubu practically formed and led in the early days of the ongoing 4th Republic. I am currently the President of Arewa Professionals in the United Kingdom as well as the international Coordinator of The Diaspora Support Group.
From the foregone preamble, I am simply projecting that I am keenly aware and can vouch for his antecedents as a true democrat and a genuine wellfarist, who puts people first in his policy initiatives and programmes while at the helm of political authority. Hence, one of the major reasons most of his followers have continued to work to support and advance his vision, policy and leadership.
Regardless of one’s position on the political divide or, closeness and loyalty to him, the irrefutable, palpable prevailing reality in the country is that, Nigerians are going through a hard time. However, to the enlightened and informed, it is also a clear fact that in spite of the obvious challenges faced daily by Nigerians, President Tinubu means well for our great nation.
There can be no surgical solution to an ailment, without the pains of the surgeon’s knife. That is, the president as a believer in bettering the lots of humanity has sincerely embarked on a mission to salvage the nation. It is also significant to acknowledge President Tinubu as a true democrat, who profoundly fought and contributed to the restoration of representative governance in the country.
Aside this historic accomplishments in the nation’s struggle against military rule, his landmark record as governor of Lagos state bears indelible, poignant testimony of his credential as an iconic, visionary and a people-oriented leader. His innumerable programmes and edifices remain relevant and functional close to 17 years after his exit from Alausa House. Any wonder that Lagosians, indeed, Nigerians of goodwill, rever him to this day?
Talking of Tinubu’s credentials as a democrat, one would dare say that his name shall be written in gold when annals of the struggle for local government autonomy is written by future chroniclers of our time. It will be highlighted that President Tinubu tenaciously held to his position that local government autonomy is the real bedrock of genuine democracy. Under his visionary leadership, he sustained the struggle that climaxed in the epochal July 11, verdict of the Supreme Court that irreversibly gave financial autonomy to the local government councils.
It is therefore regrettable as it is a shame that some unpatriotic elements have failed to see anything good in the dawn of local government autonomy. It is particularly baffling and condemnable for Dr Kayode Fayemi to describe local government autonomy as, “an aberration and a contradiction in a federal system of government.”
By the way, if one may ask Fayemi and his ilks, do federating units depend largely on the central government for their financial sustenance? Is it an aversion council areas in most advanced democracies such as Britain and the USA have their independent police services?
In one of his usually erudite commentaries on national issues on the eve of the 2023 presidential election, the scholarly Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said, “I pity any president that will be taking over from the present administration.” The world renowned economist was simply referring to the then prevailing gloomy economy.
Despite inheriting a massively degraded and comatose economy, this administration is working hard to arrest the economic turndown, spiraling inflation, wide spread poverty and rising unemployment by implementing strong economic reforms that must be done for national rebirth.
The much talked about removal of the unsustainable fuel subsidy and the unification of the forex market were, indeed, difficult but inevitable decisions in the long-term interest of the present and future generations of Nigerians.
All other critical sectors of the economy, such as agriculture,, food security, energy, infrastructure, transportation, education, health and social investment have recorded and continue to receive urgent attention to be able to address the inherited rot in the system. Particularly of note is the operationalisation of the Port Harcourt -Aba rail line, the commencement of the Lagos – Calabar super highway, all of which are contained in his 8-point Renewed Hope agenda.
Without equivocations, majority of Nigerians in the diaspora are not favourably disposed towards the ongoing so-called “national protest.” We consider it to be an ominous signal of the beginning of an unpredictable outcome. It looks very much like taking the path that can eventually lead to disastrous consequences. Ultimately doing nobody, segments or communities any good.
The sad incidence of massive pogrom and bloodletting in Sudan and Kenya is very instructive here. We must not all succumb to the antics of the anti-democratic forces to destabilise our dear country. The several so-called faith inspired riots and upheavals during the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration were in truth, orchestrated to crash the system. Same forces appear to be at work. So much similarities with this ill-timed, ill-conceived national protest against President Tinubu.
We call on the international development partners and community to never cease in working to support and help Nigeria fulfill her development vision, sustainable growth, meeting the aspiration of the citizens. We call on the international community to be wary in inflaming the fragility of the country with their reports and engagements.
We call on the nation’s elite to allow superior national interest weigh higher over and above self-centered primordial, clannish, jingoistic interest in their consideration. We must assiduously strive against fostering discontent by promoting ethnic and religious tension for narrow and transient gains.
Finally, based on credible intelligence available to us, we in the Diaspora Support Group are constrained, to strongly call on all the fifth columnists, who, though occupying critical positions in the present administrative, have questionable loyalty due to the dubious and selfish pecuniary political goals as opposed to the goals of their principal, the president who has entrusted them with the lofty positions they are enjoying, to desist from their destructive path.
Yunana Shibkau, the International Coordinator of the Diaspora Support Group, writes from Britain.
