Opinion: Nigeria hour of glory is here, by Kola Amzat
Even though, Nigerians are oblivious of the fact that President Buhari two terms tenure of 8 years would terminate May 2023, the consciousness of the election that would produce his successor didn’t actually overwhelm them until the conclusion of the presidential primary(s) that produced the presidential candidates of the notable parties.
It was then that it dawned on the citizenry that indeed, there would be general election. Since then, the elections momentum started building up, until about three (3) months ago when it reaches climax, snowballing into just only discussion in every household across the country.
Eventually, the election is here! The fever has gripped everyone. No other discussion takes center stage and pre-eminence in all the nooks and crannies other than the general election, especially that of presidential-the one that binds and joins our destiny together as a nation.
Now, it’s apparent that we are all going to the polls on Saturday, February 25, 2023 to give mandate to a new leader who would spearhead and drive the affairs of this hugely blessed nation for the next 4 years.
Quite a number of pessimists are already in the political space doubting Nigeria successful transition, as well as expressing very negative thoughts of inability of the nation to come out of the election unscathed. This writer has good news for them.
The general elections would hold and even, in a peaceful and convivial atmosphere devoid of war and violence and new leaders at all levels would emerge to drive the affairs of the country in all tiers of government and the nation would be good for it. Of course, there are nagging issues and challenges.
The unity and togetherness of the country has been seriously bastardized so that the future of the country now hangs in the balance. There is so much mutual suspicion and distrust in the land on account of petty jealousy, envy and strife that have permeated our national life.
There is a big challenge of unending and persistent insecurity across the nation, a development that has continually thrown off balance, the psyche and emotional state of Nigerians. Initially, it was predominantly in the North West and North East. Today, banditry, Boko-Haram, insurgence, hi-tech kidnapping etc have all come to stay in other parts of the country. The hydra-headed challenge of insecurity has also destabilized the governments at all levels to follow through, some of their good intentions in terms of well-conceived developmental initiatives on economy, infrastructures, educations, agriculture, socio-political etc. Of course, insecurity challenge has significantly affected the quantum of foreign investments inflows into Nigeria shores.
There is challenge of tottering and prostrating economy that has continually placed Nigeria in the state of hopelessness and despondence. Compounding the pains and tribulations imposed on the citizenry is the CBN and its egoist and incongruous governor that has been rolling out draconian and frustrating policies good enough to wreck and extinct Nigerians.
There is also the problem of self-inflicted power supply and electricity distribution, a destabilizing force that has ravaged all households and brought all the nation’s business initiatives both at large, medium and small scale onto their knees. The resultant effect of this is the several thousands of army of unemployed and unengaged vibrant youths who are prepared to do anything just to survive
Sadly and instructively, this is the point Nigeria is, at present. Without mincing words, this is where we are! And, there are three frontline candidates in the midst of the maddening crowd of presidential candidates.
We have Alhaji Atiku Abubakar whose highly revered former president he served under, as vice president has continually warned Nigerians of imminent danger of saddling Atiku with responsibility of leading the country. He went further to affirm that the PDP presidential candidate has the capacity to drive the nation into extinction. He confirmed unequivocally that, the Turakin Adamawa has little or nothing to offer the nation.
There is also a former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi who two of his successors, very cerebral and highly celebrated former CBN governor, Charles Soludo, as well as immediate past governor of the state, Willie Obiano have cast serious doubts and aspersions at his capacity to lead the entire nation, citing majorly his largely uninspiring and uneventful tenures as governor of the state as their major reasons. It’s also in the public domain that Peter Obi blatantly lied with respect to quantum of billions of Naira he confirmed he left in the state Treasury while he exited. Charles Soludo revealed that the record of state’s Accounts at LP presidential candidate’s completion of tenure, was largely insignificant and dismal to commence any notable project whatsoever. Indeed, the incumbent governor confirmed that Peter Obi left with state mindboggling debt portfolio to grapple with.
Meanwhile, we also have the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a former Lagos state governor, a much respected and highly revered political icon and one of the nation’s genuine soldiers of democracy. Following the annulment of 1993 presidential elections won by Chief MKO Abiola and in a bid to reclaim the mandate for the deceased Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Tinubu was one of very few key political figures of NADECO, a pro-democracy that hounded out of power IBB, the leader of the government that annulled the election, rendered the country ungovernable for Abacha and his regime, truncated Shonekan’s interim government and ultimately, forced Abubakar Abdulsalam to return the country to democratic governance in 1999.
From 1999, Bola Tinubu presided over the affairs of Lagos state as Chief Executive Officer. His tenure heralded unprecedented developments in all fronts-the state economy, education, infrastructures, agricultures, housing, socio-political, entertainment & sports.
Tinubu repositioned and thoroughly restructured and reengineered state civil service, making it entrepreneurial and result-oriented. With incredible shrewdness and high-octane revenue generating skills, his regime exponentially increased Internally Generated Revenue of the state from about #600 million to #8 billion. Presently, the state records average monthly unfathomable figure of #50 billion as IGR. He created 37 LCDAs from existing 20 LGCs, a development that has completely opened up the nooks & crannies of the state for awesome developments in all gamut. The new cities of Lekki-Ajah, Alimosho, Epe, Oniru, Banana Island, Ikorodu, Ojo/Okokomaiko, Agege/Ifako etc are all products of this developmental initiative. Tinubu created Atlantic City from Bar Beach Ocean, a creation of nature has hitherto been causing collateral and colossal damage to the people and properties in Victoria Island any time it surged beyond its boundary. Before the expiration of his tenure, the legendary politician bequeathed on the state a blue print of developments that has continue to shape and direct the path of the state.
From 1999 till date, Asiwaju Tinubu continues to structure the succession plan of the state, a development that has significantly stabilizes the governance by ensuring continuity in all facets of developments. It’s instructive to note that no other state across the country has achieved this wonderful feat.
In 2014, Tinubu was the architect of formation of APC, the coalition of political parties that sent packing PDP, the then ruling party at the federal level, during the general elections of 2015. The party followed this up by retaining the power during the 2019 general elections, against all odds. Both in Years 2015 and 2019, the APC presidential candidate also significantly helped in constituting the leadership of NASS, a political initiative necessary in democratic governance to ensuring that the president enjoys some level of cooperation from the legislative arm of government. This usually translates in seamless passing of bills emanating from executive arm of government.
For years, Tinubu has assumed status of Nigerian statesman building bridges across the nation with traditional rulers, political leaders, and leaders of thoughts, pro-democracy groups, teeming youths of the nation, women groups, even the downtrodden.
In Nigeria political history, no Nigerian politician today living or dead has been able to lift many to political prominence and visibility like Bola Tinubu does. The list of his beneficiaries includes vice presidents, governors, senators, ministers, commissioners and many other political stalwarts in the corridors of power across the country.
Tinubu is gifted with eagle eyes to recognize talents and when he does, he launches them to political and business stardom. He’s unlike other leaders that are overwhelmed and consumed by strife, envy and jealousy any time they encounter people who are better than them.
Tinubu is an accomplished manager of men and resources. He’s imbued with innate skills of galvanizing resources together to achieve results. He’s done it in the corporate world achieving incredible result while he was Treasurer of Mobil Producing. He has also achieved unprecedented successes in the political sphere.
The political Colossus is a highly detribalized Nigerian, a father figure which this country needs at a crucial time like this, when all seems not well with our nation, in terms of unity and togetherness.
Conscious of Tinubu dogged and relentless mentality of breaking barriers and challenges, we’re confident of his capacity to break those barriers that have dogged the path of this blessed nation in its march to glory and attaining greater heights.
It’s expected that Tinubu already widely publicized plans to have IT and Digital hubs in some strategic locations across the country would help in bringing the best out of the nation’s teeming youth population who are largely unemployed and unengaged.
The nation also expect that industrial hubs also earmarked to be located in some specific areas in 6 Geo-Political zones across the country would not only launched the nation into industrial global prominence, but would essentially provide employment for thousands of youths across the land.
Tinubu has an amazing plan for Agricultural sector especially, with the plan to creating marketing boards across the country. We are also confident that educational sector would witness massive restructuring, in terms of curriculum remodeling and reengineering.
With the manifestoes contents as contained in the Renewed Hope Agenda, there is no iota of doubt that there would be a new regime of hope, prosperity and assurance in the Oil & Gas sector. We also expect Niger Delta Region to experience very significant turn-around in terms of infrastructural development and prosperity for the people of the region.
Of all the candidates, Asiwaju Tinubu has capacity and capability to drive the affairs of the nation to point of success and prosperity. He has impressive cognate and leadership experience to manage the nation economy. He’s witty, bold, courageous, independent- minded and self-driven all attributes require to be decisive in taking very critical decisions whenever the need arises.
More importantly, Tinubu would stabilize the nation polity. He’s presidential. He’s emotionally and psychologically balance. He has helicopter views on issues. He’s visionary. He’s resourceful. He’s discerning and with high level of wisdom and sagacity.
I therefore passionately appeal to Nigerians both home and abroad to place their trust and confidence in this specially created unique being by nature. He’s the leader our nation needs at this crucial time.
It will be glorious and highly beneficial if we give him our mandate on Feb 25, 2023 as President, Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)
Lagos based Financial Consultants,
09077509348
