Tinubu’s steady and assured moves so far, By Kola Amzat
It’s an established norm and tradition in contemporary democratic governance that leaders of government are subject of assessment of their stewardship for 100 days of their assumption of office.
But, what President Bola Tinubu has done just within 14 days of assumption of office as President, Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria has made nonsense of this established norm.
Indeed, waiting till the next 10 weeks thereabout in order to capture the valiant and tremendous achievements he has recorded would obviously be counterproductive to momentum that his 15 days presidency has generated in all gamut and across the country.
Less than 24 hours after he was inaugurated as the 16th president, Tinubu swiftly swung into action. He was reported to have resumed into office 2.34pm on May 30, 2023, technically sending messages across to all the state governors also inaugurated that the period of celebration was over and that they must hit the ground running in order to meet the yearnings of millions of long-suffering Nigerians.
Tinubu has since took the historic decision of removal of petroleum subsidy, a thorny issue that has remained a no go area for the successive administrations, even, the past military authorities.
He was brave, courageous, dogged and resolute. What made a difference between the past leaders and the new president is the will to implement a very difficult and administration-threatening decision.
The unfolding event thereafter indicated that the president was fully prepared for eventuality-opposition of the labor movement, the petroleum marketers who have been feeding fat on the nation treasury, as well as the rancorous members of Civil Society Organizations.
The president got all his facts and figures, as well as articulate and well informed team ready to battle it out with labor movements on the negotiation table. He also got prepared the strategic areas the subsidy humongous sum would be channeled. In the end, the labor leaders, CSOs and oil marketers buckled and bowed to superior argument.
President Tinubu has also assented to the Students’ Loan Bill, an awesome initiative that provides interest-free loans to Nigerian students seeking higher education. The loan is accessible to all students seeking admission into public higher & Tertiary Institutions within Nigeria.
With the above, forever in our country, the curtain has been drawn on the challenges of funding for thousands of indigent students aspiring for tertiary education. This initiative would significantly reduce the scourges of banditry, cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping and other criminalities that Nigerian teeming youths take solace when they lack funding to further their education.
Equally, Tinubu has signed into law Electricity Bill Act, a wonderful bill that authorizes states, companies and individuals to generate, transmit and distribute electricity.
The new bill repeals the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (ERSRA) which was signed by ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo in 2001. The law is designed to break the monopoly in electricity generation, transmission and distribution at the national level.
Hitherto, the monopoly of electricity distribution resided with Federal Government as administered by the regulator-Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC).
When operational, the impact of this bill would reverberates in all the sectors of the economy-manufacturing, infrastructural, SMEs, households etc. Also, state government and brave electricity firms, locally and internationally would be able to generate revenues, as well as generate employments for thousands of Nigerians.
Also, for so much professional blunders and series of unethical practices in office, President Tinubu has suspended Godwin Emefiele from his office as Central Bank Governor. This writer may be accused by less-discerning and uninformed Nigerians of being too hard on Emefiele that after-all, he’s not been found guilty.
However, Nigerians would vividly recall that this writer about 8 months ago orchestrated a widely circulated Piece on the disgraced CBN governor titled “Emefiele; The worst Nigerian CBN Governor Ever”.
In a decent clime, Emefiele ought to have been cooling his feet in prison long time ago even, before the assumption to office of President Tinubu.
In his era, monetary policy was consistently in shambles. He bluntly refused to let monetary policy in sync with fiscal policy. There is no country economy that could survive if the two policies are working at cross purposes.
He disobeyed the Minister of Finance and even, national assembly at will, always hiding under the independence of CBN governor as conferred by the CBN Act.
For the better of his tenure, Emefiele implemented multiple exchange rates forex policies, an initiative that has today subject our currency into prostrate state. He deliberated embarked on this unwholesome misadventure to stupendously enrich his cronies.
Emefiele completely mismanaged the nation foreign reserves account. Indeed, in Femi Falana (SAN) revelations of Emefiele tenure, he alleged him to have surreptitiously transferred from foreign reserves account about $17 billion to some Nigerian Banks without the knowledge of the president. Till date, the funds are yet to be recovered.
The same Emefiele was reported to have deployed Nigerian hard-earned resources to resuscitate some ailing Nigerian banks-Polaris, Heritage, Keystones etc, where he obviously has interest. For instance, he was reported to have committed about ₦1.3 Trillion to resuscitate Polaris Bank only to dispose the same Bank just for ₦50 billion thereafter, to his allies.
Meanwhile, Nigerians and their unborn generations would never forget and forgive Emefiele for inflicting so much pains, groaning and agony upon them with his wickedly crafted Naira redesign policy.
Not even during the civil war did Nigerians for several weeks went through such harrowing experiences. It must interest him that he might have succeeded in sending quite a number of Nigerians to the world beyond, with some physically and materially paralyzed forever.
The height and culmination of Emefiele sins was his effrontery to contest for Nigerian presidency while still in office as CBN governor. With this despicable project, he wasted the nation resources. It was also reported that he was sponsored by the then Aso Cabal to truncate the presidency project of the incumbent president.
Till date, Emefiele has not deemed it fit to apologize to Nigerians for his indiscretion, arrogance and contempt for the people and laws of this country.
Without any shadow of doubt, he will have his days in law court and it would be astonishing if he gets out of this trouble.
It’s also remarkable that the President Tinubu strategic moves in all facets has attracted the attention of the global leaders, particularly with American president, British Minister, Chinese and Japan leaders, France president and very key leaders around the globe making valiant attempts to court and cultivate Nigerian leader.
And, by all standards this development is good for us a nation; good for our image abroad; good for our economy, infrastructural, medical, ICT, educational developments etc.
Just yesterday, President Tinubu, a political strategist of gargantuan status in collaboration with APC leadership hierarchy got elected leadership of the national assembly, those he believed could conveniently and productively work with him to deliver the dividends of democracy as he promised millions to Nigerians during the electioneering campaigns.
In the last 15 days, President Tinubu has also shown character, uncanny capacity, uncommon leadership qualities, bravery and steadfastness, as well as openness in governance.
Nigerians now appreciate the ambiance of Aso Villa in its magnificent form in contrast to what’s obtained during the successive administrations.
Nigerians with better ideas and initiatives seamlessly walk in to Aso Villa to present their ideas to Mr. President. This is what’s obtainable in the developed world. This is how our country should run. The country belongs to us all and we must collaborate with the president to take her to the greater height.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)
LAGOS BASED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT, 09077509348
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB, CTP, MBA) Lagos Based Financial Consultant
09077509348.
