With Tinubu, new Nigeria beckons, by Kola Amzat
Suddenly, there is a new wave of optimism all across the length and breadth of Nigeria that the country is poised to bounce back. Nigerians are dreaming again of the restoration of unity, harmony and togetherness that resonated amongst more than 300 ethnic groups across the country, pre Nigerian Independence.
Everyone seems gearing up for renaissance Nigeria particularly with a new president that has been widely acclaimed as Pan-Nigerian, embodiment of patriotism & sincerity, developmental & people centric, and more importantly, an unrepentant and firm believer in the Nigerian project, as well as unity of our dear nation.
Without doubt, the country has been balkanized for over 4 or 5 decades. Multiple military interventions in the nation polity has significantly slowed us down. Members of the Junta at various times of completely pocketed Nigeria for decades, running the country like their fiefdom.
Successive democratic presidents that emerged thereafter didn’t also helped matters, as they’re obviously bereft of ideas, significantly lacking in leadership capacity, as well as sincerity to optimize the huge endowments the country is blessed with, for its optimum advantage, as well as to benefit its teeming population.
But, since the incumbent president emerged, he has never left anyone in doubt as to his resolve for paradigm shift as it relates to changing the face of economy, complete overhaul of infrastructural, security, education and medical and even IT ARCHITECTURE, and more importantly, his avowed commitment to strengthen the unity and harmony amongst the diverse ethnic groups.
He has decided to take up the gauntlet, maintaining a stoic attitude of NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER, perhaps adopting the biblical Esther’s attitude, while trying to make plea onto King Xerxes in her bid to rescue the Jews from been annihilated by Haman; “If I perish, I perish”!
Tinubu quest for the restoration of unity that hitherto bound Nigerians together, might have prompted him to dust the file of Saro Wiwa and his Ogoni eight (8) kinsmen, who were brutally dispatched to the world beyond by dark-goggled and dreaded Sani Abacha through death by hanging, with a view to providing restitution and granting the slain men state pardon, as well as conferring on them post-humous national honours.
In a saner clime, Saro Wiwa and his colleagues didn’t deserve to die. What was their offence? They were simply defending the cause of their people-Ogonis, against the decades of exploitation of their natural resources by Shell Petroleum, a multinational Oil & Gas company and in the midst of that struggle, other five members of the same community were frustratingly collaborating and wining & dining with the same multi-national company to rip off the community, a development that didn’t sit well with Saro Wiwa and his group, necessitating them to incite the community against the unscrupulous five (5), an ugly development that led to the death of Ogoni five (5).
Even if Saro Wiwa and his eight man group had to be punished, obviously, it shouldn’t have been death by hanging, because they were not directly linked to the death of those black legs in their community.
Their execution by hanging was therefore a TRAVEST OF JUSTICE, as they were not directly linked to the death of the enemies of the Ogonis.
On a related note, Nigerians vividly recollect that the president had a couple of months ago, awarded multi-billion dollars contract for the total cleaning and cleansing of Ogoni land, and with a firm promise that exploration of oil & gas would soon RE-COMMENCE in the land. What a tremendous president! What a thoughtful and very reflective leader!
Even though, the Ogonis might have harbored the belief that all is lost; but, Tinubu came from nowhere to completely restore back their lost glory and hope.
Ogoni case is just one of the Tinubu stoic determination to ensure justice and fairness. Of course, Aare MKO Abiola generations yet unborn would never forget what Tinubu has done for the family.
Besides the fact that he encouraged and engineered his predecessor, Muhammud Buhari, to move for the restoration of MKO Abiola mandate, by declaring him president posthumously, as well as confer on him highest national honour of GCFR, Tinubu has moved further by conferring national honour of CFR on Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, the slain wife of murdered MKO, who paid the supreme sacrifice ONLY for demanding for the de-annulment of presidential mandate freely giving to her husband by teeming Nigerian electorates. This perhaps almost complete the cycle of restitution to MKO family.
But, this writer further implore and encourage the president to move with a view to OFFSETTING whopping ₦45 billion legitimately owed to Aare MKO Abiola and his companies, a debt arisen from execution of numerous contracts, which none of Nigerian successive administrations have never denied its existence. When this is done, its then that the cycle of the restitution might have been said to be completed to the late business mogul and his generations.
It’s also instructive that the president found it worthy to confer posthumously, the highest national honour, GCFR, on late Gen Sheu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd), a soldier turned politician, but, endowed with awesome and incredible political tactics and strategy.
Nigerians would also recollect that the Katsina born iconic and illustrious Nigerian died in prison, where he was kept for months by Sani Abacha regime.
The conferment of national honour is in furtherance of the president’s deliberate efforts to re-ignite spirit of unity across Nigeria, particularly against the backdrop of the fact that Sheu Musa Yar’Adua was clamped into the prison on account of his effrontery in “speaking the truth to the power”.
It’s also noteworthy the president has significantly done very well in reintegrating the Igbos into the mainstream of national politics, with his tacit support for an Igbo man to emerge as Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Dave Umahi from Ebonyi hoisting Igbo flag proudly as Minister of Works, Uche Nnaji holding portfolio of Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Doris Anite, with Minister of State, Finance portfolio, as well as Nkiruka Onyejeocha, with the portfolio of Minister of State, Labour and Employment.
The incumbent Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral E.A. Ogalla is from Enugu state. There are several other juicy federal appointments that have been conceded to the South East geo-political zones.
The 1.6km long Second Niger Bridge linking Onitsha and Asaba hitherto abandoned by successive administrations is on the threshold of been completed.
Indeed, since the turn of 4th Republic in 1999, it has never been this glorious and wonderful for the people of the zone!
Meanwhile, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara state and Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum recently declared publicly that, North Central zone has never had it so rosy with government at the federal level!
He cited the appointment of Engr. Bayo Ojulari, a Kwara state indigene recently appointed by the president to take charge of the affairs at NNPCL as Group MD/CEO. He also proudly mentioned the recent establishment of North Central Development Commission, with virtually all the key offices been dominated by North Central professionals.
He didn’t forget to mention the appointment of Chief Lateef Fagbemi, also of Kwara state descent as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, a federal ministerial appointment that has given the state tremendous visibility.
It’s also worthy of note to submit that virtually all the six (6) geo-political zones now have Development Commission, a strategic initiative designed purely for economic emancipation, political calibration, cultural mutuality, social cohesion and all-round development.
Nigerians better imagine what the Development Commission would have turned Nigeria nation to, in the years ahead!
In the quest of the president for university education for all, he has almost converted all polytechnics and colleges of education across the country to universities, providing them necessary funds to facilitate infrastructural architecture and all resources the new universities needed to run efficient, purposeful and result-oriented curriculum programs, as well as competing with other institutions globally.
There is unanimity amongst structural and urban developers, as well as generality of Nigerians that Tinubu administration has almost turned Abuja, Federal Capital into cities just like in European/American countries, and, even, Dubai, on account of developmental foray continually on-going within the city, and suburbs.
Meanwhile, recently, during the president state visit to Katsina state, he declared war against terrorism, mandating and challenging the security forces to smoke out all terrorists particularly in North West and North East geo-political zones for destruction and total annihilation, promising federal government total support in all gamut. This is in alignment with the president avowed commitment to rid the nation of criminality, thereby making Nigerian territorial integrity investment destination for local and foreign investors.
Besides the on-going reforms in all facets, the administration has taken some strategic initiatives that has involved every part of the country connected to each other for economic, socio-political, as well as infrastructural benefits.
When Lagos-Calabar is completed, Nigerians would be stunned of its enormous benefits and advantages to all cities and locations near the coastal areas.
Are the political foes and opposition groups still doubting the fact that Tinubu remains the best man to drive the affairs of this country at this crucial time, and even beyond 2027, when his first term expires?
The president has displayed uncommon leadership capacity, resourcefulness, understanding the dynamics of the nation and polity, as well as mental fortitude to govern Nigerian nation, with its diverse multi-ethnic and religious peculiarities and diversity.
More importantly, the president is firmly in control of the affairs of the country, thus rescuing the nation from hitherto DISCORDANT TUNES, which always emanate from seat of power during the regime of past administrations.
Generality of Nigerians are of the view that by the time the president rounds up his two-term tenures hopefully in year 2031, the country would have taken significant steps towards joining the league of developed and prosperous countries around the world.
It’s also expected that Nigeria would have been significantly turned to very educated society, a development that would benefit all the strata, as there would be supply of expertise and needed skills to all entrepreneurial initiatives-small, medium and larger scales on account of Tinubu quest to litter the nation educational space with University of high standard and quality.
This writer therefore implore opposition members running from pillar to post on daily basis in their quest to unseat the president to sheath their sword, look around the country to see for themselves developments in all facets, and henceforth collaborate and support the president, with a view for him to achieving the maximum potentials of the country, as well as locating her in the midst of the developed nations.
After-all, what’s the essence of governance other for purposeful, result-oriented governance, which would make life abundantly better for the citizenry, as well as taken the country to the greater height.
If someone is already offering that and even, performing than the expectation of the populace, why this running helter skelter to undo and unseat him?
It’s no brainer that the opposition members involving in this desire for GRABBING POWER WITHOUT NO PURPOSE, have no iota of love for this country and deserved to be treated with IGNOMINY.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)
Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,
09077509348.
