Bola Tinubu: Again, 2024 indisputable man of the year, by Kola Amzat
In the last 4 decades, No Nigerian had been maligned more than President Bola Tinubu consequent upon his courage, guts and conviction in formulating and implementing very tough policy decisions, particularly with respect to outright removal of fuel subsidy, as well as floating of domestic currency.
Not even the leaders of successive military regimes before the turn of 4th Republic in 1999 had attracted so much condemnation and reprimand as the incumbent president.
But, against all odds, the ex-Lagos governor has remained unperturbed, undaunted, unmoved, unwavering in his determination and undeterred in his conviction to see those key reforms through.
The president has equally sustained his efforts to continually assuring Nigerians that the sun would soon shine again, after months of eclipse.
And, at this critical and tough time, there is nothing that a beleaguered nation could do other than to be infected by the confidence, unusual optimism and aura of the president, that there would be light after the tunnel.
After-all, the president sits at the very top of the nation affairs, a vantage position where he seamlessly sees Nigeria totality of resources, potentials, strength and weaknesses and could specifically and confidently declare the direction the country is headed.
The onus is on the countrymen and women to appreciate, as well as share his optimism of better days ahead.
The crux of this Piece remains that despite the cloud of uncertainty and pervading pall of darkness all over, the government have recorded major milestones as under listed:
The government have dramatically doused the tension across the country of military takeover of affairs of the nation, a development that would have thrown the country into turmoil, as well as regressed democratic gains the country has recorded in the last 25 years of his democratic experiment.
Also, the agitation for succession that has been the trademark of IPOB in South East Geo-political zone has somehow lessened.
The government tremendous and deliberate efforts at re-integrating the region into the mainstream of governance, conceding very juicy appointments to the zone, as well as properly deploying the tools of fairness, equity and justice in the distribution of nation resources, particularly taking cognizance of the interests of the region, is yielding positive results.
Somehow, the vociferous voices of agitation of militants in Niger Delta Region have also gone down significantly even despite the scrapping of Niger Delta Ministry.
Government seem to have developed other ingenious ways & means of significantly taking into cognizance the overall interests of the people of the region, as well as their infrastructural developments.
On defense, the president has brought a new dimension of urgency, promptness and responsiveness into the nation security challenges.
Following the president sustained and persistence order to security chieftains-Defense Ministers, National Security Adviser (NSA), Security Chiefs, Inspector General of Police (IGP), bandits, insurgents, kidnappers and other criminals are going through their worst phase in the country.
From all indications, the president perhaps practically stands on their necks!
Indeed, the band of criminalities are been neutralized and decimated on daily basis, a laudable development that ensured respite and new lease of life for fellow countrymen and women in the North West, North East and North Central Geo-political zones.
Presently, federal government have sanctioned establishment of North West Development Commission, North East Development Commission, South East Development Commission and South West Development Commission all in attempts to further attend to infrastructural needs of all Geo-political zones, with all the Development Commissions situated under Ministry of Regional development for effective monitoring and administration.
Port Harcourt Refinery is alive again, and already in production after decades in limbo, with government making unequivocal declaration that rehabilitation works would soon be completed on Warri and Kaduna Refineries.
With Dangote Refinery producing at full capacity of 650,000/barrels per day, we could confidently project into the nearest future regime of orderliness, stability and normalcy in the oil sector.
Of course, there is a cheering news in economy. Nigeria’s foreign reserves grew by a notable $5.57 billion over six months, rising from $33.04 billion on April 8, 2024, to $38.61 billion by October 3, 2024, underscoring the resilience of the country’s external position despite on-going global economic challenges and external factors.
Equally, federal authority have reduced the debt service ratio from 97% to 68% of revenue, providing more financial freedom to invest in essential social services like education and health care
Since the turn of 4th Republic in 1999, no federal authority has provided such huge financial leverage to other two (2) tiers of governments in form of FAAC allocations than the present administration.
The president stoically followed up this initiative by approaching, as well as getting judgment from Apex Court for Financial Autonomy for the Local Government Authorities.
In the years ahead, Nigerians would be stunned at what this awesome initiative would turned out to be!
It’s also instructive to submit that with this administration, power and authority only flows from Aso Villa, a clear indication of a president that is fully in charge and control of the affairs of the country, as well as symbol of sovereignty of the nation, unlike discordant tunes that characterized governance in the past.
There are also in place plethora of social intervention programs meant to address the need and concerns of all segments and cadres in the society-SMEs, youth groups, students, women groups, market women, farmers, vulnerable Nigerians, displaced people by natural disasters etc,
These are deliberate, intentional and strategic initiative to ensure every Nigerians are able to partake in the resources of the nation.
In Tinubu government, FCT, Abuja have boldly assumed its role as the nation capital with the incumbent minister, Nyesom Wike’s tremendous developmental strides in all facets, as well as in all the nooks and crannies of the city.
Of course, on account of express mandate of the president, he has made FCT, Abuja a delight to the locals, as well as international community.
On a related note, there are several road networks construction and rehabilitation on-going all across the country, an indication of infrastructural renaissance and renewal, with the ultimate aim of supporting Nigeria desire for growth and development.
There are other milestones recorded by this administration within the space of 18 months in the saddle as under-listed:
These include construction of bridges, railways across the country, significant development in oil and gas sector and of course, commencement of audacious Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway projects.
Deliberate efforts of the government has improved oil production to 1.71 million barrels per day, and two Foreign Direct Investments of over $500m that have already been signed.
The government has commenced the implementation of also Compressed Natural Gas Initiative meant to power the transportation sector and reduce costs. The president confirmed that this will save over N2tn a month, that is being used to import PMS and AGO.
It’s instructive that these accomplishments just within 18 months of Tinubu government were recorded against all odds-inherited prostrate economy by the administration, saboteurs’ efforts particularly in oil & gas sector, inherited infrastructural decay, and continual efforts by uninformed members of opposition to drag the government down through falsehood and propaganda, as well as unnecessary distractions from the camp of ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo.
Nigerians therefore need to applaud and salute President Tinubu to have recorded these feats during the outgoing year despite the turbulence and difficulties encountered.
These are justifiable reasons why the president has been identified and chosen as indisputable man of the Year 2024, a feat he’s achieved for the second year running.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)
Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,
09077509348.
