Politics
Countdown To A New Era: Nigerians Await Tinubu’s Presidency For Positive Change
With less than a month left until the inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria, the excitement and anticipation among his supporters and political observers is palpable.
The end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is in sight, and Nigerians are hopeful for better leadership and positive transformation across all sectors of the country.
Tinubu’s leadership has been a topic of discussion among Nigerians since his emergence as the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate.
While some criticized and made mockery of him due to his old age and the gaffes he made during his campaign speech, others sees him as the rightful candidate for the position.
According to his supporters, his track record as a former governor of Lagos State and his leadership experience make him a capable and qualified leader to tackle challenges and bring about the much-needed transformation in the country.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu served as the governor of Lagos State from May 1999 to May 2007, during which he implemented numerous policies and initiatives that transformed the state into a vibrant and dynamic hub of economic and social development.
Under Tinubu’s leadership, Lagos State experienced a surge in economic growth and development. The state was allegedly generating about 600 million monthly a very meagre fee for over 10 million people but when he left office Lagos was allegedly generating about 15billion monthly an increase of over 1000%.
As the countdown to his inauguration continues, the hope and optimism among Nigerians remain high, and the expectation is that his administration will bring about the change that the country needs.
During his campaign, Tinubu made several promises to the Nigerian people, outlining his vision and plans for the country.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Tinubu, released an 80-page policy document detailing his eight-point agenda in october 2022.
National security, economy, agriculture, power, oil and gas, transportation, and education were listed as the areas of focus.
The objective of the manifesto, according to Tinubu, is to establish a new society founded on shared prosperity, compassion, tolerance, and equal respect for every citizen. The document includes ten promises that Tinubu intends to fulfill if elected.
The first promise is to create a Nigeria that provides decent jobs and wages to the youth, enabling them to live a better life.
Secondly, he plans to transform Nigeria into a nation of creators, where goods and services are manufactured and invented, rather than just consumed.
He also intends to increase exports and reduce imports to strengthen the naira and enhance Nigeria’s way of life.
The manifesto also prioritizes enlightened agricultural policy to support farmers, modernizing public infrastructure to promote economic growth, and harnessing emerging sectors to empower young people and women.
The goal is to create a Nigeria where no parent has to worry about sending their children to bed hungry, by training and offering economic opportunities to the poorest and most vulnerable.
Additionally, Tinubu pledges to generate, transmit, and distribute sufficient and affordable electricity, provide basic healthcare, education, and housing for all, and establish a strong national security architecture to eradicate terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and violent extremism in Nigeria.
On January 8th, 2023, Tinubu addressed an endorsement rally organized by the area community in Lagos at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, Onikan. During his speech, he assured Nigerians of his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises if elected as the next president.
He also assured that his government would be for all Nigerians, regardless of their tribes and faith.
“My respect for this country will continue to increase, and I will honour all my pledges that we all will live in harmony. We belong in each other’s hearts,” Tinubu said.
“From the moment I enlisted in politics, I have always been nationalistic and detribalised in my approach. I do not operate based on ethnicity, region or religion. I have friends and associates in all corners of this country.
“As governor of Lagos State, I constituted a cabinet, comprising competent people from all parts of Nigeria. We had the Yoruba, as we had the Igbo and Arewa. What was important to me was not your ethnicity or creed, it was your competence and the value you would bring to governance and people. To replicate this feat for the country is why I have offered myself for the presidency,” he said.
During his presidential campaign rally, Bola Ahmed Tinubu made several promises to the states, and he is expected to deliver on those promises.
On 11th February 2023, at a rally in Abuja, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to addressing the underdevelopment of the country, with a particular focus on the youth. He pledged to build a Nigeria that all citizens would be proud of, in all its ramifications.
He said “And I say the fact that what we are doing is about our youth, about our children, about our today, tomorrow and day after. Be proud of our Nigeria. We will make you productive citizens of this country. We will make you great educator, great inventors and great developers.”
In February, during his campaign in Gombe state, he promised to bring prosperity to the people of the state making it one of the richest in the country if elected.
He said “my own is to seek the blessing and cooperation of the people. Prosperity is here now, development is here now. For several years we prayed to find oil, now kolmani has given you the resources to commence training and development of the petroleum located in kolmani and other places.”
Also during his presidential rally in Ekiti state he said in Yoruba “be rest assured this election is your own, is that not so? It is an election that will guarantee your freedom. Unemployed youth are many and they graduated from school so they deserve jobs.”
As Bola Ahmed Tinubu prepares to take the oath of office as Nigeria’s next President, the nation eagerly awaits the changes and progress he has promised.
With his track record of economic growth, infrastructure development, education, and public safety during his tenure as governor of Lagos State, many Nigerians are optimistic that his leadership will bring about positive transformation across the country.
The Osun State Government has denied media reports that she borrowed the sum of sum of N10 billion.
The government made the denial in a statement in Osogbo on Monday under the signature of the Spokesperson to the State Governor, Olawale Rasheed.
It read, “Our attention has been drawn to a report by the Nation Newspaper alleging that Governor Ademola Adeleke has taken a loan of over Ten Billion Naira. We strongly affirm that the story is not true.
“Governor Adeleke has not at any point since assuming office taken any loan either through a resolution of the State Executive Council or that of the State House of Assembly.
“The ongoing multi-billion-naira infrastructure projects across Osun State have no loan components. They are all being financed through state resources. The dualisation of roads, the overhead bridges, the school and health centres upgrades, and several roads projects are being funded through special project account created by the State Government.
“What the newspaper report referred to as loans taken by Governor Adeleke were World Bank Development financing which were inherited from the previous administrations and which are national projects operated through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the National Economic Council among others.
“Such programmes of World Bank and multilateral institutions development includes Ilesa Water project; establishment of Osun Investment Promotion Local Business Offices across nine Federal Constituencies; O-Cares For Agricultural Support Services; World Bank On Saber For Development Of PPP; World Bank On Saber For Establishment Of Osun Investment Promotion One-Stop-Shop.
“Others include World Bank On O-Cares Projects For Coordination Of State Cares (O-Cares) Activities; World Bank On Rural Access And AgriculturalMarketing Project (Raamp 3) for Rural Development Projects; World Bank For Community And Social Development Project On O-Cares; World Bank For Labour Intensive Public Workfare On O-Cares and World Bank For Social Support Programme (Cash Transfer To Indigent Elderly On Osun Covid-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus) – (O-Cares).
“As can be seen from the above, all the projects are related to the World Bank country programme for Nigeria which targets subnational entities using the mechanism of the Nigerian Governors Forum and the National Economic Council. Previous Governors in Osun State joined in the implementation of the projects which Governor Adeleke inherited.
“In line with his principle of continuity of policies favorable to the public, the Governor sustained the projects as Osun cannot opt out of a national scheme in which all states of the Federation are involved.
“No responsible government will abandon a series of World Bank projects which are already household names across the Federation and which have benefited so many residents.
“We reaffirm again that Governor Adeleke has not borrowed a kobo since assuming office. Inherited liabilities and contracts cannot be tagged on the Governor of the Year on Infrastructure.”
The Lamidi Apapa wing of the Labour Party (LP) has raised objections to the Nigeria Labour Congress’s (NLC) appointment of an interim chairman for the party in Gombe State, labeling the decision unacceptable.
Additionally, the Julius Abure faction expressed ignorance of the appointment, citing the presence of an existing substantive state chairman in Gombe.
This development exacerbates the existing rift between the NLC and LP leadership, with recent tensions culminating in accusations from the NLC against LP National Chairman Julius Abure of unilateral control over the party’s affairs.
Under the leadership of its National Secretary, Chris Uyot, the NLC political commission intervened by endorsing Sani Abdulsalam, the former Gombe LP Chairman reportedly ousted by the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee for alleged anti-party conduct.
Uyot announced Abdulsalam’s appointment to oversee the party’s affairs until local government elections are held in the state.
A copy of the letter detailing this decision was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Department of State Services, Gombe State Police Command, and the Secretary to the Gombe State Government.
The letter partly read, “To whom it may concern. We bring you fraternal greetings from the NLC political commission. We write to communicate the appointment of Alhaji Sani Abdulsalam as interim Chairman of LP in Gombe.
“His appointment is for the period up till the conduct of local government elections in Gombe State. Thereafter, a more substantive state transition committee of the Labour Party in Gombe State will be constituted.
“While we look forward to your cooperation, please accept the renewed assurance of our highest esteem.”
In a telephone conversation on Sunday, Abayomi Arabambi, the spokesperson for the Apapa faction, distanced themselves from the arrangement.
Arabambi emphasized that the NLC lacked the authority to enforce any individual on the party.
He stated, “The NLC political commission is not a party. We intend to take very drastic constitutional action against them. Already, we have warned them not to disobey the constitution of our party. They are merely a pressure group.
“No section of the LP constitution ceded the control of the party to the NLC or TUC. Furthermore, it is rather unfortunate that while some well-meaning members of the party are striving and making attempts to steer the ship of the nation on the path of growth and genuine development towards the repositioning of our party for victory in 2027, the NLC and its political commission are determined to destroy, tear down and demolish the party on the quest for personal aggrandisement.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, echoed similar sentiments.
He affirmed that the LP already had a legitimate state chairman in Gombe and revealed that the Abure-led NWC was not informed about the recent development.
Ifoh clarified that Abdulsalam, the endorsed figure, was previously removed from his position as state chairman due to alleged anti-party actions.
He stated, “We are unaware of this development as the Labour Party maintains its leadership structure in Gombe State. We have LP chairmen established in all 36 states and the FCT. In Gombe, we are already working with a chairman recognized by INEC.”
“Anybody can come out to claim he appoints somebody. Just like INEC, we are not aware of it. The so-called appointed person, Abdulsalam, was a former chairman disengaged by LP for anti-party activities.
“A new leadership was elected into office after his exit. But because of the conflict we had with the NLC, the same man went around to congress and they recognised him.
“However, I think it is a mere recognition and not an appointment in the true sense. But we are not interested in joining issues with anybody in the media. For now, we are gradually working towards resolving the crisis between LP and NLC.”
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against the governors of the 36 states of Nigeria and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for allegedly failing to disclose and publish the details of loans totaling N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion obtained by their respective states and the FCT.
The lawsuit, filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/592/2024, was lodged on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja by SERAP’s legal team consisting of Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Valentina Adegoke.
In a statement released on Sunday, SERAP urged the court to compel the governors and Mr. Wike to provide an account of the loans and publish the loan agreements, as well as the locations of projects financed by the loans.
The lawsuit follows SERAP’s previous demand, outlined in a statement issued by the organization’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on March 31, 2024, which was directed to the 37 respondents.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, expressed concern over the substantial debt inherited from his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, on May 29, 2023, stating that the state is now struggling to meet financial obligations such as salary payments.
Sani disclosed that his administration inherited a total of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contract liabilities from the previous governor.
In its latest statement, SERAP called upon the court to compel the governors and Mr. Wike to involve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in investigating the expenditure of all loans acquired by their respective states and the FCT.
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that “it is in the public interest to grant the reliefs sought. Nigerians have the right to see and scrutinise the loan agreements and know the details of how the domestic and external loans obtained by the governors and FCT minister are spent.
“Opacity in the spending of the loans obtained by the governors and Mr. Wike would continue to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens.”
The statement highlighted concerns that numerous states, including the FCT, allegedly utilize public funds, potentially including loans, to finance unnecessary travel, purchase luxury vehicles, and support extravagant lifestyles of politicians.
It further asserted that there are purported mismanagement issues regarding public funds, including both domestic and external loans obtained from various institutions and agencies.
SERAP stressed the necessity of transparency in loan spending, emphasizing its significance in enhancing accountability, curbing corruption, and fostering trust in democratic institutions, ultimately aiming to bolster the rule of law.
The statement also emphasized that state governors and the FCT minister cannot use the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to their jurisdictions.
It asserted that legal obligations to disclose the requested information are imposed by both the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Although no hearing date has been set for the suit, SERAP lamented that the country’s high poverty rate, underdevelopment, and lack of access to public goods and services are attributed to years of alleged corruption and mismanagement of public funds, including loans obtained by states and the FCT.
SERAP cited the Debt Management Office, stating that the combined public domestic debt of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory amounts to N5.9 trillion, while the total public external debt stands at $4.6 billion.
However, SERAP expressed concerns that both domestic and external loans obtained by states and the FCT are susceptible to corruption and mismanagement.
As a result, the respondents are urged to prioritize transparency and accountability in the utilization of these loans to mitigate the risk of corruption and mismanagement.
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