*_We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion; the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force. – Ayn Rand._*
Again Nigerians, have had their hopes for a fairer and better future dashed, when the newly inaugurated President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, began to exhibit the repelling and inconsiderate attributes, synonymous with his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari; which Nigerians struggled to contend with in the past 8 tempestuous years.
Though, it may seem early to run critics on Tinubu, but from the unfolding scenario, there are no obvious differences between the incumbent and his predecessor, Buhari. For many, the two can be described with the paradox of “Six and half-a-dozen.”
For instance, in one of Tinubu’s electioneering campaign speeches, he said “Go out there and tell them a new hope is here. Tell them you’re following the man who knows the way. Tell them you’re following the builder; tell them,…You are following the man who knows the way. The design on this cap is a broken shackle. We are breaking the shackles of poverty and destitution. In the last eight years, it has been a party that inherited a troublesome nation under the weight of uncertainty.”
And, here is the man who promised to break the shackles of poverty if elected. Yet, his very first speech to Nigerians has set the entire country on confusion.
Again, revisiting Tinubu’s inaugural speech after taking oath of office. Tinubu promised to run an inclusive government and ensure proper representation of women and young people.
“In our administration, women and youth will feature prominently,…Our administration shall govern on your behalf, but never rule over you…We shall consult and dialogue, but never dictate. We shall reach out to all, but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own,”Tinubu said.
He also mentioned the need for a “thorough housecleaning” of the country’s monetary policy, saying the Central Bank “must work towards a unified exchange rate”.
Analytically, Buhari’s eight years administration surreptitiously took Nigerians to the dustbin with vicious and awful experiences ranging from excessive deprivations of fundamental human rights to untold hardship, humiliations of injurious order, massive economic woes and human annihilation, synonymous to the inhuman treatment of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzer to the Israelites.
The experiences of 2015 to 2023, can also be compared to the despotic and dehumanising leadership of Saddam Hussien of old Iraq, though he was eventually demystified and finally decimated by United States, under George Bush Jnr.
Nigeria has long teetered on the precipice of failure and as such unable to keep its citizens safe and secure. Our governments should comprehend that the first step to restoring stability and security is recognising that the government has lost control.
Ofcourse, the rising poverty in country is a clear evidence of many years of canonised corruption and mismanagement of the nation’s commonwealth and neglect of the socio-economic rights of the people.
Very unfortunately, Nigeria is a country which is willing to submit itself to any government, no matter how bad, even when disorder, cynicism, incompetence and confusion reign supreme.
The immediate past administration of Buhari was absolutely unresponsive to the plight of its citizenry with gross evidence of incompetence, ineptitude and lack of accountability, yet the new administration of Bola Tinubu, is apparently not showing any possibility of turning around the tide; especially with his inaugural speech that sent panic and discomfort. A speech that re-enacted failed hope to Nigerians and further spelt more frustrations and hardship on a people with an already battered life by the impromptu removal of Petroleum Subsidy without suiting palliatives, fixing of local refineries or building mega ones.
But Nigerian leaders must know that the government is the people’s business and its operations should be at all times open to the public. Publicity is the soul and blood of decent and sincere administration.
Tinubu’s supporters’ claim of his progressive credentials, reverberates the words of admonition by one of the greatest Americans, Frederick Douglass, in an address to the citizens of Rochester, New York in 1852, which best suits this development *_“… Your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sound of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants brass fronted impudence; your shout of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanks-givings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety and hypocrisy — a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.”_*
But, can’t Nigeria get as its President, the likes of John Magufuli of Tanzania, who died leaving giant strides as legacy, Emmanuel Macron of France and Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Leaders who built bridges with respect for the sanctity of human life.
