By Muhammad Danjuma Abubakar
In a democracy, citizens’ expression of choice for candidates is guided by factors such as hopes for peace, security, and welfare; better economic opportunities; effective and efficient management of resources; diversity and inclusion; practical respect for civil liberty and freedom; and regards for the constitution and constitutionalism, among others. This democratic choice is reflective of their collective aspirations for better well-being.
From this expression of choice comes citizens justified high expectations from those they give mandates; this is why it is an indictment on the collective conscience of those elected to call for patience, prayers, and understanding from those who entrust them, as it undermines the initial trust and confidence placed on the elected by the electorates.
Prayers, patience, and understanding are not required to run for office in Nigeria. Therefore, it is unreasonable for elected officials to demand these from the public to justify their failures.
Voters assess candidates based on their competence, experience, and fairness. Even during elections, voters are often impatient and look for leaders who will perform extraordinary feats and effectively meet their needs.
In this context, the expectations of Nigerians from President Tinubu, like those of Buhari, were high, spurred by his campaign promises and the political image and antecedents he portrayed to Nigerians.
This said, without fear of contradiction, President Tinubu was presented to innocent Nigerians with amplified messages like he is an architect of economic transformation, a builder of modern Lagos, a mentor of human resources, a top recruiter of quality talent, a bridge builder, a Nigerian with a broad national stature, and a kingmaker with little desire for power. Even the aftermath of his elections has shown a different picture.
Even in the run-up to the election period, Tinubu stumbled and fumbled many times in words and deeds, either knowingly or unknowingly.
First, he awed Nigerians by asserting that it was his turn to rule the country (Emi lokan) as if the elective office was an arranged turn-by-turn affair. Such a public statement, which appears to subordinate citizens’ interests, could be intolerable in more exposed democratic climes.
In addition to that controversy, he also went to the extreme by emotionally blackmailing his predecessor, Buhari, claiming he single-handedly made him president, as though he only constituted millions of voters.
As a politician, Tinubu’s political gamesmanship is second to none. This is why, knowing that large chunks of votes would come from the North, a Muslim-dominated region of the country, he decided to choose Shettima—a northern Muslim—as his running mate, despite criticisms from adherents of other faiths.
This move proved successful, as he was declared duly elected by the nation’s electoral umpire, INEC. But it is frustrating and worrisome that we are not better off as citizens and as a nation.
For the records, this is not suggesting that Tinubu’s predecessor left the power better than he met it, considering many shortcomings of his administration, including alleged high-scale corruption under his ‘nose’. Yet, the severity of this administration’s hardships and bad economic conditions surpasses’ Buhari’s.
Under Tinubu’s administration, life for the average Nigerian has taken a drastic turn. Poverty has deepened, and insecurity in the North has deteriorated much faster and worse than during Buhari’s tenure.
This worsening condition is reflected in various negative indicators, including the soaring inflation rates in basic life necessities, such as food.
An average Nigerian has not forgotten, not even at all, that during Buhari’s presidency, four good slices of meat were sold at N300 in the North. And a mudu of garri (cassava flour) was being sold for the same N300. The price of a mudu is now the price of a cup.
Our situation today is akin to what a Nigerian street man would say: ‘Water don pass garri,’ which translates to ‘water has surpassed soaked cassava flour.’ This invariably means a terrible situation that has gone out of control, just as it appears to have gone out of the control of Tinubu’s presidency.
The only way left for the suffering masses to voice their pains to a government that chooses to be tight-lipped is through peaceful protests legitimized under our constitution, which Tinubu himself led several times but is now not comfortable with and so perceived to be ruthlessly suppressing with state forces, harassments and intimidating the starving angry poor.
The DSS and police, expected to uphold professionalism, etiquette, justice, and respect for the rule of law, are focused on arresting and intimidating perceived ‘persons of interest.’ How on earth do the masses deserve such cruelty? The masses with whom lie the true powers in a democracy!
As a matter of fact, why shouldn’t the common masses be outraged? Insecurity is at its worst. Inflation has soared to an unprecedented 33%. Amid pervasive hunger and widespread poverty, the government splurges on private jets and extravagant renovations for the VP’s residence.
Meanwhile, educational institutions’ workers, including the NLC, are often treated dismissively, with no government-backed economic opportunities for the poor, the vulnerable, and even the educated youths.
Having achieved his long-time ambition of becoming President, Tinubu only seems preoccupied with the temporary power of his office. His long arms of presidential powers reinforce the perception of vindictiveness against those perceived as either not in his good books or his predecessor’s appointees.
Through the excesses of federal powers, it suffices to believe that federal powers subtly dabbled in issues outside its mandate, including the Kano Emirate saga, the Fubara vs. Wike conflict, and Ndume’s removal as Senate Chief Whip.
As for Sen. Ndume, are we to link his current travails to his choice in the run-up to the APC 2023 Presidential primaries?
In the build-up to the APC Presidential primaries, Senator Ndume didn’t hide his mobilization and support for Tinubu’s co-contestant, Rotimi Amaechi.
Talking about appointments, the current administration has also been accused of stripping northerners of their key positions and replacing them with Lagos men who had failed to deliver the same Lagos, which he was credited with its heights and development.
One may rightly argue that the Buhari presidency, in a similar fashion, rewarded the region that gave him the highest votes through appointive positions. But it is worthy of note that Tinubu’s highest election votes also came from the northern region.
Yet, this predominantly Muslim-dominated region is neglected. For instance, the Baro Port in Niger State, a significant project for the benefit of the entire North, is yet to receive any sincere attention, even with over 30 trillion Naira budget now in effect.
For Tinubu’s presidency, water don pass garri since this is not what Nigerians voted for and hoped for. The administration is out of touch with people’s needs, and its actions are in sharp contrast with expectations.
Muhammad Danjuma Abubakar is a public affairs commentator and lives in Minna, Niger State. He wrote via muhammadcares4u@gmail.com.
