By Bala Ibrahim.
Democracy has a lot of gifts, but the biggest of them all to me, is the gift of the right to choose. The right to make a decision and the freedom to express dissent. Yes, under democracy, people are at liberty to hold or express opinions even if they are at variance with those commonly held by others, including those that are reading this article. In the last few days, my articles have earned me few accolades from those that felt happy with the position I took. But, I repeat but, like anyone in the habit of commenting or writing on topical issues, particularly those issues that may have bearings with politics or social settings, booing and silent or even loud hisses are regular companions of the comments of a commentator. And today, I want to expand that horizon a little. I am going to praise the President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria. So, if you don’t like that, please discontinue reading, because it may offend you. Democracy has given you that gift.
There is no doubt that Nigeria has always been in the news, but that appearance seems to have increased recently, and mostly, negatively. The leadership of the country, which is the biggest black nation on earth, has been the target of attack by many, including the leader of the most powerful country on earth, America. President Donald Trump of America has tagged Nigeria as a disgraced nation, an indirect indictment of the country’s leadership. I don’t want to go into the reasons for Trump’s position because it’s a matter of perception. And no matter how long I take in explanation, a cup half full will always be seen as half empty by the critic. So, I would dwell only on the promptness of President Tinubu in responding to the people’s problems.
Perhaps, because of differences in leadership styles, and the antecedents of previous leaders, it can be said that, Nigerians have become familiar, very familiar, with the word, dilly-dally. This is so because leaders often waste time wandering in indecisiveness. But since the coming of Tinubu, that template has been thrown away. Decisions are now taken with speed, courage, and the readiness to be damned by the minority, provided the leadership is convinced that, the overall interest of the majority is protected.
Starting from the fearless decision to remove the fuel subsidy, right there at the podium of taking the combined oaths of office and allegiance, to the latest decision of telling Faruk Ahmed to resign from the position of heading the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, President Tinubu has proven to Nigerians that, indeed he is a leader that is sensible and sensitive to the feelings of his people. The Faruk’s saga is perhaps the latest, amongst many controversies that visited the President’s tenure in office, but almost always, Tinubu is swift in handling issues, contrary to the norm that was adopted hitherto.
Unlike his predecessor, late Muhammadu Buhari, who virtually spent his eight years in office without making any dramatic change in the composition of the members of his cabinet, President Tinubu came with the style of carrying the stick, to hit fast at the accused, provided the public cry is justifiable. That stick was used quick on Betta Edu, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. Thereafter, other ministers and political office holders, including our colleague, Ajuri Ngelale, were relieved of their positions. The reasons advanced for discharge is mostly given as health, but yes, it can be the poor health of performance, as perceived by the public and the principal.
Just before the fuss between Dangote and Faruk flared into a full blown furore, another issue that was simmering silently in the social media was the grumble in the military circle, about the recommendation for the special promotion of the President’s ADC, from the rank of a Colonel to a Brigadier General. I learnt, from social media sources, that the recommendation was vehemently objected by all those conversant with the procedure for progression in the military. And true to his character of rising to the occasion, whenever the issue at hand receives public outcry, I read somewhere this morning, that, pursuant to internal discontent and high-level consultations involving military authorities and the Presidency, the President has directed the reversal of the recommendation. Nothing illustrates sensitivity to the yearnings of the people more than this.
In democracy, the importance of understanding and responding to the people’s will or yearning is key. According to Rajiv Gandhi, the Indian politician and one time Prime Minister, in a democracy, the people’s will is supreme and their yearnings should translate into cooperation. Gandhi’s position is supported by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the US Supreme Court Justice, who said, the constitution is meaningless without meeting the people’s yearning for liberty and freedom. Hence, methinks, Tinubu is one President, among the many Presidents Nigeria had, that is prompt in responding to the yearnings of the people.
