The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in his bestseller, The People’s Republic, said that “The primary responsibility of leadership is catering for and promoting its people to the end so that they may live a full and happy life.” This means a government should recognise the dignity of its citizens and work tirelessly to improve their lives.
Currently, it seems Nigerians are far from living a full and happy life, given the hyperinflation, rising cost of living, and the embarrassing chaos in the oil and gas industry.
President Bola Tinubu assumed office with a promise of renewed hope. Nigerians supported him, even after the openly declaration at Eagles Square on May 29, 2023, and the subsequent call for patience. Many questioned the rationale behind this call when the government showed no intent to reduce the cost of governance or stop the misuse of public funds on unnecessary activities.
Nigerians’ patience wore thin by August 1, 2024, leading to nationwide protests. But that was just the beginning. The situation could worsen if the government does not address the confusion in the petroleum industry. How can Nigerians pay over 1,000 naira for fuel and still struggle to obtain it? In Tinubu’s Nigeria, people spend hours queuing at filling stations and up to N50,000 for fuel, only to find themselves back on the queue after two days. This is unsustainable and unacceptable.
Nigerians are deeply frustrated. They feel that nothing is working and do not believe the problem rests solely with the president. Many believe that most of the president’s aides are either unfit for their roles or unwilling to perform them effectively.
Tinubu started by creating and renaming ministries, including appointing himself as minister of petroleum-the largest cabinet in the country’s history,. This is where the housecleaning should begin. The president needs to relieve himself of the role of minister of petroleum and appoint a competent individual to manage that role.
“I thank the cabinet members for their efforts, but I will relieve any of them of their duties anytime I feel that they are failing Nigerians,” the President had said in May.
It seems the Tinubu cabinet is in a race to failure. The national grid has collapsed a record five times this year alone, supply remains erratic, projects from previous administrations are abandoned, more contracts are awarded, food insecurity and malnutrition persist despite agricultural initiatives, and security is nearly non-existent. The list of needed improvements is extensive.
Punch