Opinion
By Steve Osuji
Still bumbling and groping:
UNBEKNOWNST to many, the second week of the Tinubu era has raced past. But sad to say that it remains a poor start signposted by much bumbling and groping. Nothing yet shows a president touted to have prepared for the job for all of 24 years. Nothing shows a man possessing of a roadmap or sure of his footings. No intentional or planned actions yet; and even the low hanging fruits are not picked.
For instance, Tinubu fumbled into a fuel subsidy removal snafu on the first day. True, he didn’t make the so-called law, he inherited it from his immediate predecessor. Therefore, nothing compels him to implement it; or at that, to do so from the first day. He is at liberty to do over half a dozen other things with the so-called law appertaining to subsidy removal.
He could have reviewed it, delayed implementation or brought about some rigour to the management of its fallouts. He did none of these. He has indeed done nothing.
REMEDYING THE FUEL SUBSIDY FAUX PAS: This brings us to the second week. If the knee jack proclamation of subsidy removal on the inauguration podium was a grievous error, it is expected that quick and reasoned remedial actions would have followed in all of two weeks. But President Tinubu has done nothing concrete about his fuel subsidy faux pas after 14 days. Obviously no plans have been put up by anyone upon the fuel subsidy gaffe.
Naturally, an immediate response from the presidency would have ensued if anyone there understands the magnitude of that podium proclamation. The least this column expects from the fledgling presidency was a high-powered technical panel to begin sitting and if nothing else, raise quality discourse around the subsidy removal with the intention of proffering some ameliorative actions in the shortest possible time.
NOT ONE THOUGHT FOR THE MASSES: But nothing of that noble path is taken so far. Which says a lot about the motive, intention and objective of the subsidy opera. What we have witnessed from the presidency so far is much grandstanding, photo opportunities and propaganda. Not one thought is seen to have been spared for the masses of Nigerians who are being pay-loaded into purgatory with a vicious swagger.
The president met with a rash of stakeholders but no intentional outcomes were recorded. Just talk, talk and more hoary talks.
With the Nigerian Governors Forum, Tinubu had this to say: “How do we address the unacceptable level of poverty? How much are we investing in education, which is the only tool against poverty. I am ready to collaborate with you.” Nah! The president at this juncture, is to begin to lay clear markers as to his mission and vision on the critical issues, not to ask governors how.
Nothing concrete about the pressing matter of subsidy removal and palliative measures was discussed . On the other hand, the governors took turns to praise and fawn over their new C-in-C, showering him with unearned laudation over subsidy removal. The circus has begun, it seems.
It was the same theatrics when Tinubu met with the leadership of Labour. Much rambling, much woolliness but nothing concrete.
Notwithstanding that Labour came with certain proposals and demands, the president never spoke to the issue at hand. Neither was a body created to interface with Labour at the bargaining table. But when Labour gave notice of a protest, the presidency was quick to get a no-protest injunction from the Industrial Arbitration Court!
A meeting has been fixed for Monday, June 19, with Labour, but would the presidency be ready? Would it set up a team? Would there be reasonable response to Labour’s demands or would the current propaganda against Labour continue?
RESPONSE FROM QUARTERS OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENCY: To address the monster of a thoughtless fuel subsidy removal, two states, Kwara and Edo, have undertaken some measures, albeit extreme. They have cut down to a novel three work-day a week for their workers. The helmsman in Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun took the initiative to meet with the local chapters of Labour in his domain. He sought concrete conversation with them on what can be done for workers.
This situation out there is indeed dire, a ticking bomb.
AOB: MANACLING EMEFIELE AND THE SMALL MATTER OF CABINET: On the last day of last week, Nigerians were treated to what may be described as the EMEFIELE SHOW. The Presidency had moved against Mr. Godwin Emefiele, physically ‘abducting’ him and hauling him to Abuja as if he were a common criminal. A viral video clip shows Emefiele escorted to the airport in a Hilux truck, and trans-loaded into a waiting jet by security agencies suspected to be the DSS. Emefiele looks frail and cowed while the security detail on duty made a show of handcuffs ostensibly to manacle Emefiele to his seat in the plane. The DSS had earlier denied grabbing Emefiele until this video broke. What a calamity both for the DSS and Presidency. Emefiele’s suspension had been announced by the presidency earlier in the week, even though his appointment is tenured and would require the legislature to terminate.
Of course, the Emefiele handling puts the Presidency in very ugly light making people to worry if this would be President Tinubu’s style. Suffice to say that every citizen, even an accused, deserves civilised treatment… even after such a one has been convicted. Humiliating Emefiele detracts much from the fledgling Presidency.
Let us also not lose sight of the fact that Emefiele was under the authority of a president in all he did, we doubt that he acted on his own accord.
APPOINTMENTS, APPOINTMENTS: There seems to be a bogey in Nigeria’s Executive Branch that appointing a cabinet must necessarily take several months. President Muhammadu Buhari took about six months in 2015; some governors have run solo for nine months to one year before kick-starting government. This is perverse. It is indeed corruption at its highest pedestal. No one man can singlehandedly rule a country or even a state for one day! And let it be said that a serious president or governor can push out a list of his potential appointees (to the senate) even on the first day in office. Remember that a president or governor-elect has at least two months break before inauguration. That’s enough time to pick your team. Remember also that we were told that Tinubu travelled to Paris, France after he was declared winner in March, to prepare for governance.
What we have today is serious leadership vacuum which should worry any patriot. Tinubu told us he would touch down running… of course this is not what he has in mind, or is it?
Nigeria is at the nadir of its existence; the president has no time to grandstand and doodle. Work must start, long and short term planning must commence, waning national morale needs some quick shot in the arm, nothing beats the full compliment of the executive working as a team from the outset.
Let’s cut to the chase…
A.
Tags: Steve Osuji
