IN A GOOD democratic environment, it is the performance of a government in power that encourages its re-election. The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not done well in any area. It has actually become a threat to democracy. Another term in 2027 might just be the nail in democracy’s coffin. He has caged both the ruling APC and the opposition, hijacked institutions, and shown us his true form – it is all about ‘me, mine, and mine’. Incompetence is an understatement; ruling Nigeria’s complexities seems beyond him.
The president has demonstrated lack of capacity, or do we say, unwillingness to secure Nigerians, which is the primary duty of government. While he was celebrating his 74th birthday, gunmen on motorcycles killed several people in the Angwan Rukuba Community of Jos North, Plateau State, on the same day, Sunday, 29th March, probably presenting him with a gift of blood.
In the past two weeks, there have been intense insecurity issues in Nasarawa, Kogi, Sokoto, Kebbi and Benue states. Most worrisome is the utterances of top security chiefs who referred to bandits as our brothers and prodigal sons that should be forgiven, not minding the pains and griefs of victims.
Tinubu’s government brought harsh economic conditions on Nigerians. So many people cannot feed, lots of children are dropping out of school. Hospitals have been degraded far below ‘mere consulting clinics’ (apologies to General Sani Abacha) to mortuaries; while many breathing a just living dead – very sick but hopelessly prostate without financial capacity to even transport themselves to the dilapidated health centres, let alone pay bill or buy drugs that are either fake or priced beyond their reach. The president and his economic managers have demonstrated a clear lack of capacity and knowledge to properly guide the ship of state to be able to respond to numerous senseless nautical signals otherwise referred to as reforms that has disorientated our economy.
Reports indicate that between 10,217 to 22,460 people have been killed in Nigeria since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023. These numbers come from various sources, including Amnesty International and the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
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In some states like Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Kwara, Kogi, Borno Sokoto and Northern Edo, life is hell and citizens are at the mercy of bandits.
Northern Nigeria is replete with IDP camps that are overflowing, victims are living from hand-to-mouth on NGO handouts. This ‘democracy’ looks like a joke – governance takes a backseat to politicking. Every opportunity is used for politicking. Government seems careless and insensitive to the plight of the suffering masses.
President Tinubu removed petroleum subsidy on his first day of assumption of office. The naira was floated, subsidy on electricity was removed and people were made to pay very high energy rate for non-existent energy. Our power sector: a paradox. Abundant gas, endless sunlight, yet pervasive darkness. Billions have been invested, privatisation was tried, but crisis persists, crippling industry and frustrating citizens because of corruption that no government has been able to tackle.
Tinubu’s government brought harsh economic conditions on Nigerians. So many people cannot feed, lots of children are dropping out of school. Hospitals have been degraded far below ‘mere consulting clinics’ (apologies to General Sani Abacha) to mortuaries; while many breathing a just living dead – very sick but hopelessly prostate without financial capacity to even transport themselves to the dilapidated health centres, let alone pay bill or buy drugs that are either fake or priced beyond their reach. The president and his economic managers have demonstrated a clear lack of capacity and knowledge to properly guide the ship of state to be able to respond to numerous senseless nautical signals otherwise referred to as reforms that has disorientated our economy.
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Even with subsidies gone, Tinubu’s government has borrowed BIG – biggest in Nigeria’s history, all in under 3 years.
President Tinubu’s borrowing is significantly higher than former President Buhari’s, which made Dino Melaye to cry out that “Buhari borrowed ₦83 trillion in 8 years with subsidy, Tinubu borrowed ₦158 trillion in 3 years without subsidy”. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also stated that Tinubu’s borrowing in 28 months is 10 times worse than Buhari’s borrowing in 8 years, citing the impact of naira devaluation on loan costs.
The Bola Tinubu I knew in opposition would’ve rejected this abysmal performance. This government has mastered state capture, with Tinubu pulling the strings. If three years are this bad, what’s next? ‘Economic reform’ sounds hollow when insecurity’s ramping up. A govt that can’t protect its people doesn’t deserve another term.
The lifestyle of the president and the people in his government does not portray a leader who wants to correct many years of leadership errors. He carries on like someone who wants to take his share and move on. The cost of governance is very high and the president has never made any effort to cut it down. His frequent foreign trips with large entourage that seem like joyrides, brings nothing except loans. Every trip is an opportunity to borrow
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Given the soaring inflation, widespread hunger, and crippling unemployment, re-electing APC’s Tinubu in 2027 would be a disaster. The government promised to lift 10 million Nigerians out of poverty, but it has pushed way more into it. Tinubu’s policies have worsened the economy, with GDP plummeting from $364 billion to $188 billion, and 129 million Nigerians now living below the poverty line.
The government is tactically shrinking the political space. Every party in crisis has APC mole fanning the embers of disagreement. The essence is to ensure that no political party is strong enough to challenge it in 2027. If PDP had played the same card when it was in power, it wouldn’t have been possible for APC to emerge in 2015. This government has put in place economic policies that stifle dissent, and have pursued the weakening of democratic institutions, creating fears of a one-party state. Key concerns include the massive recruitment of opposition members into the ruling APC, harassment of critics, and the alleged manipulation of state resources to marginalise political competition,
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The president is a law unto himself. Institutions caged, National Assembly rubberstamps, judiciary compromised, INEC’s on side. Opposition weakened, with many erstwhile opponents standing on his mandate as they decamp. Civil society is silent. Tinubu calls the shots, spends as he pleases – no accountability. Query him at your peril. Weak judiciary, spineless legislators, and a partisan INEC enabled this mess. This is not the change we expected in 2015. What we had before 2015 was far better than this.
The Bola Tinubu I knew in opposition would’ve rejected this abysmal performance. This government has mastered state capture, with Tinubu pulling the strings. If three years are this bad, what’s next? ‘Economic reform’ sounds hollow when insecurity’s ramping up. A govt that can’t protect its people doesn’t deserve another term.
Comrade Amechi is a Lagos-based trade union activist and pro-democracy advocate.
