May the President succeed

Sir: What most Nigerians have kept praying for since independence is for a responsible and responsive government that would address the multi various problems confronting the country. Failure on the part of most governments in Nigeria has led to a situation where almost all the youths in the country now look towards the foreign countries for survival. The situation is so chaotic that the desire to leave the country by all means continues to lead to mass loss of lives by those trying to escape from the harsh economic realities of their country.

The last administration was one in which most Nigerians reposed so much confidence but it ended as one of the most disappointing in the history of governance in Nigeria. Yet, it recorded some landmark achievements such as completion of both the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the second Niger bridge, re-introduction of the rail system and marked improvement of the power sector. But all these were at the expense of massive loans that almost grounded the entire country.



With the expose of some of the key players in that last administration, especially the governor of the Central Bank, it became obvious that most of the said loans taking on behalf of the country went into private pockets. The current regime inherited a huge burden of a nation in a very deep mire of debt. Yet, the citizens still have some flicker of hope in the new President based on his antecedents particularly his excellent performance in Lagos when he was the executive governor.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from every indication, seems poised on making a huge difference by delivering on his campaign promises and by listening to the yearnings of his people and trying to change the country’s narrative. The masses are often overjoyed at crashes in the prices of fuel and foodstuffs which are major areas of problems.

If he is able to sustain the tempo or even bring the prices down to a level that would shock Nigerians, improve the value of the naira, stabilise the economy and create massive employment opportunities for so many unemployed youths, and cut down on the excessive spendings of government functionaries, then he must have paved an easy way for his second term in office because all Nigerians crave for is a leader who can make life livable and meaningful for all citizens, someone who can bring laughter to the faces of a people who have been completely frustrated and traumatised for so many years. Jide Oyewusi is the coordinator of Ethics Watch International Nigeria..