Journalists are known to be the bridge between the ruled and its leadership, and vice versa. Thus, we are entrusted with a responsibility to present issues as dispassionately as possible, accurately, factually and in an interesting manner in order to spice up the subject matter. Moreover, citizens demand for factual news and reports as a matter of right; that helps them to have an informed understanding of issues and situations affecting their daily lives in order to get them usefully engaged in public affairs. Attaining this noble course promotes open government reforms and enhance the role of enablers that tend to make contributions to the spread of democratic gains while promoting citizen participation in governance.
Nigeria has adopted and is practising the Presidential system of democracy since the return to civil rule in 1999, without any disruptions and with four-yearly routine regime changes being smoothly conducted. This presupposes that our government is “of the people, for the people and by the people.”
Luckily, the incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been in the forefront of restoring democracy after a long spell of military rule in Nigeria (1983-1999). He was among the bona fide funders of the agitation which wrestled power from the military back to civilians and he remained an activist through the course.
Moreover, upon return to democracy, he has been actively involved in the political arena of the nation, having served as a Senator, Governor, opposition and ruling Party Leader before ascending the Presidency. Now, thirteen months into his first tenure of the four-year term, it is ripe enough to show him that he has totally derailed as a democrat.
As a 2013 APC presidential election aspirant, Tinubu declared in the city of Abeokuta that “emilokon” – which ordinarily means “It is my turn.” What was generally understood by the pronouncement was that he was merely expressing an emotional outburst in response to the intra-party stiff opposition to his emergence as the ruling party’s presidential flag bearer. He believed that transiting from Party Leader to presidential candidate ought to be a smooth sail. It wasn’t so for him. Hence the Abeokuta outburst to register his displeasure, disappointment and desperation.
As for Nigerians, we were not aware that Tinubu’s primary intent with the “emilokon” outburst, was to mainly deepen the escalation of negative developments affecting many frontiers of the citizenry and also jeopardise the very existence of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that he serves as its Chairman. All these are symptoms of when a democrat derails.
Petroleum subsidy removal, with neither consultation nor provision for cushioning the effects of the action or even giving it a semblance of due democratic process; devaluation of the naira currency and its high inflationary backlash – no anticipatory plans for its consequences; ultimatum to Niger Republic to revert to democratic rule, after internally opting for a military regime, or face war – neither diplomatic consultations nor taking due cognizance of the ultimatum’s diplomatic implications; extending warm diplomatic overtures towards France in the prevailing circumstance of its having been expelled from its former West African colonies of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad – an action that led to their threat of withdrawal from the ECOWAS and with indications that Ghana is likely to go along with them, and the lopsided manner of his appointments in favour of South-westerners, especially Lagosians, and with blatant disregard to equity, fairness and national interests, in that respect.
All these are glaringly pointing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “emilokon” stands for ‘It is my turn to deepen the misery of Nigerians, with total ignominy to their feelings or plight; broaden divisions in the nation’s polity; intent to disintegrate ECOWAS, the most formidable African regional group; and compromise the alienable rights of Nigerians and/or sell them into foreign servitude. Hence, we deserve the right to put a stop to imperial Tinubu or else we shall be doomed if we remain aloof to the derailment of a democrat.
Generally speaking, Tinubu’s economic policies have triggered Nigeria’s worst cost of living crisis in a generation. Africa’s largest economy has slipped to 4th position, behind South Africa, Egypt and Algeria. A United Nations data says 32 million Nigerians, which represents 14% of the nation’s population, are facing “crisis” levels of hunger – and the situation is affecting 5.4 million children, 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). Furthermore, 83 million people or 40% of Nigerians are living in extreme poverty. Indeed, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said the level of malnutrition has doubled in Northern Nigeria. Ironically, this is the region that garnered majority votes that brought Tinubu to power in 2023 general elections.
The fundamental question to ask is: “What prevents the very substantial wealth of Nigeria from trickling down to its citizens?” The answer lies in the large and monumental scale of corruption that has consumed the leadership whose voracious appetite for the nation’s commonwealth cannot be satisfied. Despite the high profiled corruption cases reported by both Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), very few convictions were achieved. Also, recoveries made by the agencies have not been appropriately utilized for the common good of Nigerians. The judiciary, fuelled by propensity for corruption is slow, ineffective and insufficient in its service. Where it mustered the judicial teeth to dispense justice, from the lower courts to its supreme body, the Presidency grants pardon. This kind of political rascality further dents the judicial image amongst the citizenry. Thus, honest and law-abiding government with integrity and high political commitment is required to put things right. The responsibility rests squarely on the President or else, the democrat remains in derailment.
As modern-day slavery is on the increase, we must be aware that it is fuelled by corruption. Equally, insecurity breeds fragility, as we are witnessing in Northern Nigeria, because it causes large human migration and displacements; facilitating grab of land and resources; subjecting nation to debt burden; and perpetuated mostly by Western countries and their economic institutions. Of course, the phenomena are generally aided and abated by corrupt African leaders.
Incidentally, citizens are left searching for dividends from a democratic leadership. Sadly, though, the dividends are no where to be seen; and therefore, there is no impact on the peoples’ lives. Conversely, their President has bought an aircraft, a luxurious yatch (that he neither need nor use), outrageously expensive bullet proof vehicles, renovating a Vice-President’s house that is way out of his official residence, retinue of blotted and expensive convoy of vehicles and persons when he travels/drives around, unofficial wife/son protocols at the public expense and so on. All these are imperial traits that are unexpected of “emilokon” – the democrat.
Perhaps, the most apt description of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is his behaving as a “wounded and hungry lion.” In that instance, whatever comes across the lion’s way will be devoured because it is both “wounded and hungry.” APC “wounded” him because they gave him a good run for his money before allowing him to be the party’s Presidential flagbearer. And despite the assurances of his wife, Senator Remi Tinubu, that they were not campaigning for the Presidency for Nigeria’s wealth, their horrendous expenditures at public expense have left most Nigerians in doubt. The lion can only be in-check in a democratic atmosphere where the culture of consultations provide a constant reminder that one operates within the democratic political system.
When distrust builds between the ruled and the leaders, it develops into an unending spiral effect of distrust. Therefore, no positive outcome shall occur for the common good of the relationship. It may even down grade the relation as typically exemplified by the famous or infamous interviews on Arise News TV with Mr. Olopasa who had in an earlier program reputed that “President Bola Tinubu did not remove fuel subsidy;” “Hunger did not start in the time of Tinubu;” he even questioned whether it is Tinubu’s fault that the naira is being devalued? And so on. Later on, on the same channel, Olopasa’s views completely changed. He is now questioning why “prices are skyrocketing out of control?” He doesn’t know what’s happening to the President, and as a Christian, he has committed himself to prayers for Tinubu while asserting that: “People are hungry and it is a shame, a very big shame that Asiwaju seem detached from the reality of the majority of Nigerians.” While wrapping up the program, the anchor asked him: “Are you going to support him in 2027?” His response? “Not at all.” This is probably a great testimony to ‘when a democrat derails.’
We must be mindful that change is always ‘collective.’ It is a marathon race rather than a sprint. Therefore, change should be gradual arising from an all-inclusive action to ensure the sustainability of the movement. Where the citizens are feeling disconnected and under-served, there’s bound to be a vacuum.
Yet, government officials are busy selling an imaginary impact that nobody sees or feels. Thus, there’s trust deficit in Nigerian leadership due to disinformation (information that deliberately aims at deceiving or manipulating people) and misinformation (information that is false, inaccurate and misleading) coming out from them. Nonetheless, one thing is for sure – you can fool some people, some of the time; but you cannot fool all the people, all the time. The polling booth for another vote casting is coming forth. And the greatest consolation is that there’s the day of reconning – divine judgement reigns supreme, with neither fear nor favour. Therefrom, man reaps the consequences of his actions and inactions, arising from this mortal world, accordingly. We humbly remain in prayers. May Allah guide us right.
* Abdulkareem Muhammad is a media consultant and public affairs analyst