Despite the push and pull, Nigeria remains a giant in the comity of nations. Just like any other nation, it is faced with pockets of challenges which are, of course, surmountable. Since attaining independence in 1960, leaders have come and gone after collectively or individually making remarkable contributions to the development of the country.
Today, Nigeria is about to witness another epoch-making transition of power. For all it’s worth, Nigeria and Nigerians deserve commendations and to be congratulated. While some countries are stuck in power deadlock, Nigeria enjoys peaceful and orderly transition of power. You will not appreciate this until you find yourself in chaotic countries.
What former President Goodluck Jonathan started in 2015 by congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari before the final results were declared became a building block and has continued to grow steadily. President Buhari has crowned that efforts with superlative general elections, which culminated in the emergence of former Lagos state governor (1999-2007), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is to be inaugurated today.
The saying that ‘the height of any skyscraper depends on the strength of its foundation’ stands true till eternity. Throughout history, leaders have emerged to champion the cause of greatness of the nations.
Talk about Mao Tse Tung who started the Cultural Revolution that crystallised into China’s greatness. There is also Deng Xiaoping, a Chinese revolutionary leader, military commander and statesman, who served as the paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from December 1978 to November 1989. Deng led China through a series of far-reaching market-economy reforms earning him the reputation as the “Architect of Modern China”. He contributed to China becoming the world’s second-largest economy by nominal GDP in 2010.
In Africa, Jerry Rawlings of Ghana inherited a sinking country but was able to power Ghana back to stability, to the extent that Ghaninians, who were scattered all over Nigeria, had to return home.
In the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill, that wartime orime minister of Britain, became the staying strength and rallying point for Britain, as they battled to defend their territory, which was already overrun by the dreaded Adolf Hitler and his Army.
As former United States president, Harry Truman, said, the buck stops on leaders’ table (paraphrased). Similarly, Alexander The Great was famously quoted to have said, “An army of sheep led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by a sheep.”
By inference, the foregoing means that a lot depends on leadership. This was the focal point of outgoing President Buhari’s insistence on credible elections, especially the presidential. This was so because every leader loves his legacies to be consolidated upon. Also, he wanted his successor to be a man of competence, character and credibility.
However, this did not alter his stance on credible elections that would later herald the emergence of his successor, Tinubu. A free, fair and credible election roundly applauded by leaders and election observers from across the world has produced Tinubu. The high powered delegation sent by President Joe Biden of the United States to grace today’s Inauguration bears eloquent testimony to the credibility of the election that produced Tinubu.
Last week, former British orime minister, Tony Blair, was in Nigeria to felicitate with President Tinubu, and to assure him of international support for his government and Nigeria. What the foregoing buttressed is the fact that President Buhari has successfully launched Nigeria back to global relevance.
Now that election is done and dusted and a new president is inaugurated today, let’s all, as patriotic citizens who are desirous of a prosperous nation, sheath our swords, bury our differences, while all hands must be on deck to ensure that Tinubu reenact the magic wand he is known for.
President Tinubu is not new to the Nigerian system, he has paid his dues, having served as a Senator of the Federal Republic between 1992 and 1993. He understands the importance of the trust that Nigerians conferred on him. As he rightly acknowledged during his investiture as the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), Tinubu is aware of the enormity of the challenges confronting the country he is inheriting.
With Nigerians being hounded around everyday by activities of unknown gunmen, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Boko Haram, bandits, deadly cultist groups, armed robbers and Internet Yahoo fraudsters, there’s much to be done. Traditionally, government is a continum; hence, the direction of Tinubu administration should be to build on the counter-insurgency efforts of the outgoing government.
Like Tinubu has reiterated many times, his administration will have to investigate the causes of the various security challenges and ensure synergy among the national law enforcement agencies. As a security expert, I prefer that President Tinubu should focus on synergy among security forces, fight against corrupt-serving mafia. This does not foreclose exploring non kinetic channels.
Tinubu’s handling of security issues is akin to that of a security expert. Recall that as governor of Lagos, Tinubu made the police in the state did not embark on strike when officers of the Nigeria Police Force led by the inspector-general, Mike Okiro, embarked on a nationwide industrial action. In Lagos, the policemen chose to go about their duties in solidarity for a governor who carried them along in terms welfare.
On what Nigerians are to expect from the incoming government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I will be stating the obvious if I say Tinubu is going to perform because it is a fact most Nigerians are already aware of given his track records. The life wire of any government is money. No government runs smoothly without abundance of money to fund it. That’s one of the areas of Tinubu’s greatest strength: ability to mobilise resources from taxable channels to fund government.
Records speak for themselves. From the paltry N600 million monthly tax revenue accruals to the Lagos State government in pre 1999 era to over N20 billion monthly tax returns to the Lagos State government coffers, Tinubu is certainly the man for the Nigeria of today. One of the reasons experts always adduce to the inability of successive governments to fund the federal government without borrowing is the lack of courage to fully maximise Nigeria’s tax potentials.
For the benefit of hindsight, the Lagos State economy is more than those of Benin, Togo and Niger, put together. Tinubu was able to run the economy of Lagos state with tax revenue successfully for years without federal subvention when the federal government, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, withheld the state’s monthly allocation from federation accounts because the Lagos state government, under Tinubu, created 37 new local governments to bring development closer to the people. The local government areas were later converted to Development Areas (LCDA). Those units of government are still up and running and have truly brought the desired developments to the door steps of the people. The foregoing is a valid proof Tinubu is a man of unparalelled courage and ideas.
It is inherent in man/woman to have more than others, hence the tendency to be corrupt. Corruption has no race; both blacks and whites are corrupt because it’s inherent. However, to safeguard government money, the advanced economies of this world have embraced use of advanced technology in transacting government businesses. These have enhanced transparency and accountability in the conduct of government affairs. That’s why the governments in advanced countries have more money to run government affairs.
Nigeria is not an island. If we had leaders who wholeheartedly embraced advanced technology, we will have less concern with corruption. The success stories of Integrated Payroll System (IPPIS) and Treasury Single Account (TSA) are clarion examples.
Times and events have constructed the minds of most Nigerians to believe that anti-corruption efforts should be about the use of brute force: arrest and detention. But emerging realities have shown that it is far less costly to prevent corruption than to fight through arrest and prosecution. Given the huge legal bills been incurred by our numerous security agencies, it has become expedient that prevention is the right way to go!
In this regard, Nigerians can trust Tinubu, to deliver quick wins. He is not new to the use of technology to block the too many leakages in government coffers that is impoverishing our country. So, with Tinubu in the saddle, one thing to expect is the use of technology to fight corruption and ensure astronomical increase in government revenue through appropriate collection of taxes. Also, government’s money that are supposed to be siphoned into private pockets would be saved through technology.
Most outstanding leaders throughout history didn’t do everything by their own knowledge, creativity or skills alone. Rather, they had the open mind to hunt for, and recruit talents to pilot their government, while they take credits for their achievements. Tinubu is a grandmaster and a talent hunter-in-chief. Nigerians are in for the best times in government and governance because has never settled for less before, not to talk of now that he has greater responsibility.
Let me reiterated that there’s no known politician in Nigeria that has crisis diplomacy like Tinubu. One of his greatest weapons is ability to build bridges across impossible divides. With Tinubu, no section of the country, region or religion will have cause to complain of marginalisation. Check his cabinet as governor. Check his friends. Check his inner circle. Check his family. So, there is no doubt that he will unite the country.
Finally, I want to appeal to Nigerians that leaders are not cast in stone. They’re not super humans. The best they achieve as leaders depends on the active cooperation of the followers. With Tinubu, Nigeria has another golden opportunity to consolidate and restore the giant of Africa to the path of peace, unity prosperity and development.
Ibrahim is director, communication and strategy, Presidential Support Committee (PSC).
