Insight101WithCCFrancis (#607)
We’ve all heard it before – the familiar promise of a politician on the campaign trail: “My fellow Nigerians, I know our problems. I know we need to fix our economy, improve healthcare, and educate our children. I have the solutions, and I promise to make Nigeria great again. Please vote for our Party!”
Once they assume office, their tone changes, and they become evasive, avoiding questions from the public and press. They resort to vague assurances when cornered: “Ah, the economy? Ah, yes… well… we’re working on it… I can assure you, we will do something about it…”
This raises a crucial question: “Why do politicians seem to forget the problems they once promised to solve?” This is the paradox of power – a phenomenon where politicians, once in office, face a complex web of challenges that hinder their ability to deliver on their promises. These include their own innate corrupt tendencies and greed; pressure from special interest groups and allies; demands from family, kinsmen and associates; and the weight of the bureaucratic red tape.
We’re tired of excuses. We’re tired of listening to past leaders’ regrets and unfulfilled promises. There was the General Yakubu Gowon’s regret of his inability to handles the conflicts which led to significant human suffering and devastating economic damage during the Nigerian Civil War. We have President Ibrahim Babangida’s excuses about the Northern mafia, that made him annul the June 12 election, which was described as Nigeria’s freest and fairest election. President Olusegun Obasanjo’s failure to address the power sector challenges is still a mess we are trying to recover from as a nation today. We have Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s inability to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency decisively, instead he allowed it to escalate into a full-blown crisis which led to the displacement of thousands of families. Do we need to talk about President Muhammad Buhari, a man who lost it all?
The common refrain after their tenure is: “When I was in office, I tried my best but I realised that making a change is harder than I thought. There are so many competing forces, and sometimes it feels like you’re swimming against the tide.”
Frankly speaking, we need more than excuses. We need leaders who can deliver, not just on promises, but also work tirelessly to solve our country’s problems. Now, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in the spotlight. Can he break the jinx? Can he execute policies that will turn around the state of the nation? Can he look beyond personal gratification to do what is right?
The recent August protests are a clear sign that all is not well. So, what can President Tinubu do to turn the tables around? We await his actions with bated breath.
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I’m CC Francis
…Always better than yesterday
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Thank you much
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