Nigerians often seem to respect history more than the present. It is usually easier to speak well of leaders who are no longer alive than to deal with the realities of leaders who are still governing today.
Leaders like Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, and Nnamdi Azikiwe are now remembered with great respect. Over time, people tend to highlight their achievements while slowly forgetting some of the controversies and challenges they faced while in power. That is how history and memory sometimes work.
But when it comes to modern leaders, Nigerians tend to be very quick to criticize. One small mistake is enough to label a leader as completely bad, while good efforts are often ignored. Maybe the real problem is not that present leaders are always perfect, but that Nigerians sometimes judge the present with too much emotion and not enough balance.
No period in Nigeria’s history was ever completely perfect. The past had its own struggles, just like today does. What really matters is learning to criticize fairly, remember history honestly, and still hope for better leadership in the future.
From my personal perspective, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the best so far in returning the country back to its rightful position and has worked to clear some of the mess left behind by the previous administration.
The economy is bouncing back, security is improving bit by bit with the help of our foreign partners, and millionaires are being made legitimately through known sources, not from FX and subsidy racketeering.
NNPC is more transparent than before. (I am a stakeholder in the oil and gas industry, so I know the bribery and corruption there has been reduced by half.)
The only major problem left unattended to now is power. President Tinubu needs to look into the national grid failures and epileptic power distribution to average Nigerians. This particular sector needs competent engineers who understand how this system functions.
This is the only sector you promised to deliver and yet it still remains problematic today. For the past one month, we have not been able to have light for three consecutive hours in Lekki Phase 1.
At the time of writing this report, I am running my generator in my house in Abuja.
Just as you appointed David Umahi, a civil engineer, as Minister of Works to put the right peg in the right hole, we also need an electrical engineer like Professor Berth Nnaji or Babalola as Minister of Power.
This power issue is making our finances bleed.
Since the time my path crossed yours over thirty years ago, Sir, this is the first time you have promised something and have not yet fulfilled it.
This electricity problem is getting worse and needs a state of emergency.
Your Son
Mogaji Wole Arisekola
Publisher, The Street Journal Newspaper.
0 Comments