By Prince Mark Elayo
On May 29, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration clocked two years. As the government reeled out its achievements, watchers and commentators were quick to point out its shortcomings as well.
Of course, we may be insincere to say that the administration has delivered on all its promises to Nigerians. President Tinubu might have made his own mistakes too.
However, the big question is whether the administration is moving in the right direction. Can one comfortably say that President Tinubu is steering the statecraft to the desired destination? He came to power under very troubling circumstances. His predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari struggled to keep his administration afloat. He resorted to not only borrowing, he did Ways and Means to enable him meet fiscal responsibilities.
By the time President Tinubu took up the mantle of leadership, the economy was battered and damn well low. It was a desperate situation so he had to take drastic measures to be able to kick start.
This informed the new administration’s decision to give a blow to the infamous petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023.
Immediately President Tinubu announced his “fuel subsidy is gone” policy, things began to fall apart. The pump price of petrol skyrocketed immediately from N175 to N300. This galloped to around N1,300 in 2024.
No doubt, this inflicted serious pains on the already impoverished Nigerians. Prices of goods and services more than quadrupled and the new administration became very unpopular with the average person.
However, the president remained upbeat, promising citizens that the discomfort was temporary and things were being done to return the situation to normal.
Today, many who doubted the president may agree that things are getting better. Fuel price is progressively going down and prices of essential goods and service are lower.
President Tinubu is indeed, an adept administrator. Before he came into power, there was this huge outcry that he was with a Muslim running mate and he, being a Muslim as well, Christians would be shut out of his government.
This ignited serious religious sentiments in the country which if not well managed, would have marred the electoral process in 2023.
Typical of him, President Tinubu has proved to be a leader for all. Many Christians as Muslims are accommodated in his government. Nobody is left out in the distribution of positions so the Muslim-Muslim Ticket song has died quietly. What a perfect way of dealing with a monstrous problem!
Apart from the All Muslim ticket concern, there was the claim that being a Yoruba, the president would give consideration for matters of the south-west Nigeria to the neglect of the rest of the country.
That too has turned out to be baseless.
For instance, the president, on February 4 signed the bill for the establishment of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) into law. He also signed other numerous bills establishing federal institutions in northern Nigeria, putting to rest fears that he would ignore parts of Nigeria.
We in northcentral Nigeria are grateful to the president for the establishment of NCDC and are hopeful that this might be just the beginning of good things to come in the region. Already he has approved key appointments for the commission and we are looking forward to commencement of work a soon as is possible.
NCDC will perform wonders if the insecurity bedeviling the northcentral region is tackled headlong.
In the last two years, the president has demonstrated his leadership skill by appointing highly proficient technocrats in offices for high service delivery. Two ministers have manifestly lived to his biddings.
The execution of many road projects across the country under the supervision of the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi and the work of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike are a pointer to the fact that the president is all out for a national turnaround.
As an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholder, I am completely enamored of these President Tinubu’s achievements in just a pace of two years. I have no doubt in my mind that in another two years, Nigerians will have seen much more to celebrate.
What is paramount now is for party members and people of goodwill to support the administration and render help to the president to enable the country meet its aspirations.
Prince Elayo is the Turakin Keana
