It is incontrovertible that the performance of President Tinubu has beaten the imagination of his close associates and other poles apart within a short interval since his inauguration on 29th May, 2023.
Obviously, steps and decisions so far taken indicate that BAT prepared himself for the plum job compared to most of his predecessors who once occupied Aso Rock.
Despite stiff challenges and opposition on all fronts, the President has hit the ground running, focused, assertive, fair, effective and decisive.
So far, the BAT’s presidency has in less than two months posted some scorecards, which include appointment of key aides including service chiefs with national spread, though there are feelings in some quarters that the appointments tilted more towards Yoruba, compared to other sections of the country, as was the case with the last administration.
Like Tsunami, Mr President gave the boot to Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, Ibrahim Bawa, the controversial EFCC Chairman and MDAs Boards that shaped the policies of the former administration.
Also noteworthy was the immediate signing students’ loan bill into law as well as four Executive Orders that overturned the prevailing anti-people’s policies, roadmap on economic policy and revival.
He has equally within the time frame held meeting with the representatives of Monarchs across the nation, parleyed with JOHESU, NLC and opposition leaders.
His election as Chairman of ECOWAS Heads of States/Governments at his first attendance could be described as a plus less than two months into his presidency.
However, there are issues which President Tinubu has inappropriately handled or has not adequately responded to. First was the abrupt removal of oil subsidy without providing any cushion for the masses resulting in general economic hardship.
Though the Students’ Loan Bill is a welcome development, it may not be appropriated by indigent students because of its stringent conditions while also the upward review of school fees by higher institutions looms in the country.
Deadly terror attacks has been recorded in Benue State, Plateau State, Southern Kaduna and some other places, and Nigerians await swift response from the President, who have also kept mute over alleged provocative utterance by former Gov. El-Rufai’s, which could inflame religious tension, though the Kaduna ex-governor has eventually said he was quoted out of context.
Nigerians want a clean departure from the immediate past administration, and are waiting to see if BAT will reverse questionable appointments made by the former president or his lieutenants at the eve of their exit, and the president has been silent on media speculation that he intends to appoint certain controversial and discredited individuals into his cabinet.
While the President mulls possibility of a unity government, suspicion is rife among the opposition political parties that they may soon lose their voice on the assumption that the nation may become a one-party state in the new dispensation.
This fear could be premised on past records.
By and large, Tinubu’s Presidency has lots of prospects if the current tempo is maintained and sustained. Concisely, the nation will like to see an administration immensely bringing its weight to bear on areas such as the sanctity of human life, rule of law, fiscal federalism, discipline and sanity of MDAs and state apparatus, discontinuation of selective justice, discontinuation of political interference on high profile cases, bridging North/South suspicion and dichotomy, prudent management of oil and other mineral resources better, massive job creation, foreign investment, and infrastructure leap, with a view to reducing JAPA syndrome, efficient public service devoid of bottlenecks and undue bureaucracy, with reduction in the cost of governance.
And not the least, Nigerians want to sleep with their two eyes closed, hence Mr President should prioritise reorganizing the armed forces; pursuit of enhanced synergy among security agencies under a strong West African regional block could turn the tide in this direction as some countries in the block are plagued by extremists and other non-state actors.
BAT has no god-father, will this count for his being able to take decisive actions on matters of public interest without minding stepping on toes?
Dr Sunday Olawale
Dr Sunday Olawale is a public affairs commentator
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