In an utterly mind-boggling turn of events, President Bola Tinubu has descended upon Nigeria like a thunderstorm, shaking the nation to its core with his audacious actions aimed at reforming the country’s financial sector. Despite his questionable integrity and notorious political influence, Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for him, not because they believed in his ability to eradicate corruption or tackle the cabal, but because they had high hopes for economic stability. Oh, the irony!
When the name Tinubu is mentioned, one usually thinks of a political warlord who effortlessly navigates the treacherous waters of politics to enrich himself. His past governance record as the Governor of Lagos state, although very commendable, is overshadowed by the second thought that springs to mind: corruption. Virtually all Nigerians agree that politicians like Tinubu cannot be expected to be clean of corruption.
It seems that when it comes to politics, especially after the presume hard era of the ‘Corruption Free Man’, President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians are willing to overlook a candidate’s questionable character and focus solely on their ability to maintain the status quo.
No wonder Nigerians did not vote for Tinubu based on his supposed incorruptibility, his political influence proved to be the driving force behind his victory. It seems that expectations for Tinubu lie primarily in the realm of economic stability rather than eradicating corruption or challenging the existing power cabal.
During his campaign, Tinubu had a catchy slogan: “Emi Lokan,” meaning “It is my turn” in Yoruba. This phrase reverberated throughout Nigeria, swaying even the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, who was magically charmed into supporting Tinubu’s bid for the presidency. Of course, we all agree that it was indeed Tinubu’s turn to enjoy a generous slice of the national cake, given his immense contributions to Nigerian politics and his unparalleled influence over key figures in government. After all, why bother with integrity when it’s your turn to have a piece of the national cake? Tinubu’s victory was inevitable, especially considering the longstanding belief that it was the Yoruba tribe’s turn to rule after 16 years.
Barely a month into his presidency, Tinubu wasted no time implementing his grand plans for the country. He boldly announced the removal of restrictions on the Nigerian currency, causing the naira to hit a record low of 790 to the dollar. Additionally, he disappointed the oil cabal by removing fuel subsidies, but hey, it’s all for the sake of economic stability, right? Who cares if it tripled petrol prices and put a strain on the already battered finances of Africa’s largest economy?
Tinubu’s audacious actions didn’t stop there. He shocked the nation by suspending Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and AbdulRasheed Bawa, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Emefiele, who oversaw the ill-fated currency redesign exercise, was notorious for his questionable decisions. But some politicians claim that his suspension was due to his targeted move against Tinubu during his presidential campaign. They conveniently forget that an ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives was investigating the alleged missing barrels of crude oil and suspicious payments to consulting firms. But who needs formal records and accountability anyway?
In a bid to promote transparency, Tinubu’s administration has invited eight former ministers who served under Buhari to explain how they spent funds allocated to their ministries. It’s a refreshing approach that aims to address allegations of corruption. However, we can’t help but wonder if this is just a political ploy or an actual attempt to hold these officials accountable.
President Tinubu’s reign has certainly begun with a bang. It’s like watching a comedy show unfold, where corruption allegations and political maneuvering take center stage. While some may argue that Tinubu’s actions are part of a master plan to reform the financial sector and promote economic stability, others see it as just another chapter in Nigeria’s never-ending saga of political drama.
As Nigerians sit back and watch the show, one thing is certain: Tinubu’s presidency will be anything but dull. Whether he lives up to the expectations of economic stability or succumbs to the temptation of further enriching himself and his cronies, only time will tell. Until then, we can only hope that comedy doesn’t turn into tragedy and that Nigeria’s long-suffering citizens finally get the leadership they deserve.