If you decided not to appoint ambassadors who will interface with their counterparts from other countries and hold high-stakes diplomatic engagement with foreign nations on behalf of the government you lead, how then do you expect foreign leaders to take you seriously as a president?
Throughout his political career, long before he became the president, Bola Tinubu has been widely extolled for his political astuteness and his ability to get what he wants through clever, astute and sometimes brutal scheming and political manoeuvrings. From a lowly obscure, scandal-ridden politician in the late 80s and early 90s, he, through gamesmanship, ruthless horse-trading, brutal compromises and uneasy alliances, slowly but adroitly climbed the perilous and shaky ladder of power, rising from a senator in the truncated third republic to become a governor of the richest state in the country in the fourth republic and later becoming the president.
Tinubu’s touted political sagacity, even though it has helped him consolidate power and buy questionable loyalty, has come at a cost which some argue is too steep for whatever he has been able to do for himself politically and hence not worth it. His rise to power has also been dogged by scandals and controversy, raising questions about his strategy and tactics. For instance, he has largely appropriated and converted the national union of road transport workers’ (NURTW) reputation for violence to a tool of intimidation and terror with which he asserts his authority and exerts his influence. As time goes on, the NURTW has become an institution that has ditched its pressure group objective for distasteful politicking. They have become an institution tethered to a perilous slab of politics and the largely dirty and inordinate ambitions of politicians.
However, despite his ascension to and consolidation of power, many have voiced serious concern about his attitude towards actual governance. This penchant to see situations and conditions through the lens of personal aggrandisement has somewhat blurred the line between politics and governance for him. And it is not a surprise that this disposition of his has shaped his presidency and hampered his ability to lead the nation effectively and deliver the dividends of democracy. The troubling imprint of politicisation can be seen in virtually all his key decisions and important policies. This has made it extremely difficult for him to take bold actions and be ruthless in matters that affect the nation’s security and sovereignty.
This can also be seen in the disorganised and haphazard ways President Tinubu has handled Donald Trump’s situation, which has largely been worsened by his refusal to appoint ambassadors more than two years after assuming office. The feelers we are getting now are that the names of potential nominees for ambassadorial postings to critical and strategic nations and high commissions are now being hurriedly put together. Never mind that the government, for some reason best known to it, decided to sit on the vetted list of nominees for two years. This kind of behaviour portrays him as someone who has placed dirty politicking over exceptional statecraft. If you decided not to appoint ambassadors who will interface with their counterparts from other countries and hold high-stakes diplomatic engagement with foreign nations on behalf of the government you lead, how then do you expect foreign leaders to take you seriously as a president?
He also decided not to pay lip service to the insecurity we are facing today, which regrettably is also the reason for Trump’s interference in our affairs, because while many Nigerians sees an existential problem that should be tackled once and for all with full might and strength of government at all levels, Tinubu sees political bargaining chip with which he can negotiate power from the position of strength and further tighten his grip power. While Nigerians are thinking of how their lives and properties can be protected, Tinubu is thinking of how to win the next election. He has looked away while terrorists who have committed unspeakable atrocities, engaged in dialogue and entered into a peace deal with the very victims of their heinous and depraved crimes.
This is not how to lead a nation. Playing politics with critical and strategic aspects of governance does not in any way inspire confidence or elevate a nation, it is a pure reflection of a palpable lack of intelligence and exceptional ability to create an atmosphere of an utterly brilliant and profound statecraft. The result of this is that the growth of the nation is not only hampered and stunted but its image on the International scene becomes sullied. The president has also decided to surround himself with a coterie of lackeys and a motley crowd of sycophants who will only tell him what he wants to hear and not what he needs to hear.
Tinubu must shed the toga of politics and don the garb of a statesman and nationalist who no longer views every national problem through the prism of politics. He must put the public and the greater good of the nation over personal interest. He has enormous power and he has repeatedly shown that he will not hesitate to use his power to advance his objectives even when such a move is illegal and unconstitutional. He has plotted and subverted the constitution to wrest power from whatever state he needs. He has pardoned criminals and propped up state actors and used bigotry to win elections.
It is now time to use that power and political acumen to solve national problems. Nigerians are waiting.
Discussion about this post