PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot continue to deceive us. His “Nigeria First” agenda is a ruse.
Over the years, our leaders have used such phantom agendas to mislead the public. Tinubu’s actions since taking office raise serious questions about his sincerity in promoting this agenda.
Unlike Donald Trump in the U.S., Tinubu refused to engage in debates with his opponents in Nigeria. Instead, he chose to address Chatham House in London — a move that suggests he seeks validation from former colonial powers. This decision undermines his credibility on nationalist issues.
While the “Nigeria First” agenda is not a bad initiative, it can only be driven by a sincere president — not one who keeps most of his businesses in Europe, serves as a candidate for Western colonial powers and the neoliberal establishment, refuses to cut governance costs, or fails to tackle corruption. Not a president who neglects dilapidated internal road networks to embark on a coastal highway project with little economic value — one that may not be completed in the next 30 years. Not a president who pretends not to know that protecting lives and property is the government’s primary responsibility. With mass killings ongoing, who exactly will partake in this “Nigeria First” program?
Since becoming president, he has frequently been in France and London. Trump’s “America First” policy was domestically-driven, and his election debates took place within the U.S., free from external influence.
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Though Traoré was not democratically elected, his rise to power in Burkina Faso was not dictated by foreign forces, allowing him to implement policies without perceived interference. Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” is pure hypocrisy. There is nothing Nigerian about the president.
Our leaders are masters of deception, promising unrealistic goals and manipulating public opinion with lies. They prioritize personal gain over the nation’s well-being throughout their tenure. A stooge of a former colonial power cannot drive a true “Country First” agenda.
A “Country First” approach is essential for genuine independence. A truly independent nation with a democratically elected leader would not prioritize showcasing achievements to Western powers shortly after launching such an agenda. Instead, the president’s accomplishments should be evident in citizens’ daily lives, particularly in the economy.
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The president’s real concern seems to be securing Western support for a second term. The London exhibition will give him the opportunity to show Western powers the devastating effects of neoliberal policies on our people. If the exhibition were held here, no Western media would spend heavily to come and listen to such lies.
If President Tinubu is truly committed to putting Nigeria first, he should demonstrate tangible progress at home. Nigerians are acutely aware of the economic challenges they face — soaring inflation, rampant poverty, and insecurity.
The plan to showcase the regime’s achievements in London raises serious questions about priorities and potential external influences. You cannot wake up mid-term and start shouting “Nigeria First.” For Donald Trump, it was part of his campaign from the beginning. It was the spirit of “Make Burkina Faso Great” that propelled Ibrahim Traoré to power — and he would never go to France to showcase his achievements.
The economy is strangled by harsh neoliberal policies. Manufacturers are buckling under unbearable production costs. Energy costs are exorbitant, foreign exchange rates make imported raw materials prohibitively expensive, and heavy taxes and overregulation stifle industrial growth. Meanwhile, industrialized nations flood our markets with cheap products. It is hard to see how this policy will succeed.
I hope President Tinubu’s delegation will paint an honest picture of Nigeria’s struggles at the June 27 event in London. They should let the world know about:
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- Nigeria’s increasing debt burden and lack of transparency in loan utilization.
- Rampant corruption, with the government turning a blind eye.
- Inflation projected to average 22.1% in 2025, driven by rising food and fuel costs.
- Multidimensional poverty affecting 63% of Nigerians, with income poverty at 40%.
- Daily threats from terrorism, with lives lost and families displaced.
- The ₦70,000 minimum wage, which lost value even before implementation, leaving working-class families struggling.
- The absence of transparency and accountability in government, leaving Nigerians disillusioned with what they see as a government of show business.
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While the “Nigeria First” agenda is not a bad initiative, it can only be driven by a sincere president — not one who keeps most of his businesses in Europe, serves as a candidate for Western colonial powers and the neoliberal establishment, refuses to cut governance costs, or fails to tackle corruption. Not a president who neglects dilapidated internal road networks to embark on a coastal highway project with little economic value — one that may not be completed in the next 30 years. Not a president who pretends not to know that protecting lives and property is the government’s primary responsibility. With mass killings ongoing, who exactly will partake in this “Nigeria First” program?
President Tinubu lacks the moral authority to implement a “Nigeria First” agenda. A leader must lead from the front — it cannot be “Do as I say, not as I do.” In just two years in power, he has spent a cumulative 80 days out of the country on frequent medical trips, despite Nigeria having hospitals and doctors.
Our governance, in reality, is operated like a show business, a reality show, with only the president and his inner circle, as authors of the script, are directing the cast toward what they truly aim to achieve. There is nothing in it for Nigerians. A good president must lead by example.
The president rides in an American limousine, an Escalade. Government officials — ministers, permanent secretaries, directors-general, and parliamentarians — all use imported foreign-made vehicles. Furniture in the presidency, state government offices, and guest houses are imported, even though these things are made locally. Our own car manufacturers, like Innoson and Nord, produce quality vehicles that could serve the government.
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Our leaders deliberately put the cart before the horse to deceive us. Certain policies should precede a “Nigeria First” agenda. How can the government effectively implement such an agenda in a deeply corrupt civil service? We will likely see foreign businesspeople increasing bribe sizes to break the moral defences of government officials. Since Tinubu took office, we have heard nothing from the Due Process Office. Who will monitor this new policy? It seems like another opportunity for corrupt civil servants to enrich themselves.
The economy is strangled by harsh neoliberal policies. Manufacturers are buckling under unbearable production costs. Energy costs are exorbitant, foreign exchange rates make imported raw materials prohibitively expensive, and heavy taxes and overregulation stifle industrial growth. Meanwhile, industrialized nations flood our markets with cheap products. It is hard to see how this policy will succeed.
Our governance, in reality, is operated like a show business, a reality show, with only the president and his inner circle, as authors of the script, are directing the cast toward what they truly aim to achieve. There is nothing in it for Nigerians. A good president must lead by example.
