Political slogans are effective mobilization tools used to galvanize the masses for national causes. In Nigeria’s recent history, the change mantra in 2015 was politically expedient for the opposition parties to upstage the status quo. It achieved phenomenal success.
Then, few years into the PMB administration, the change that was promised lost steam with the tide of reversals in the nation’s security, economy and the badge of nepotism became unofficial government policy. What did change tangibly and indisputably was the gale of infrastructure constructed by PMB; roads, rail, bridges, tertiary institutions etc.
The failures of the PMB administration gave rise to serious cataclysmic consequences. This development fueled ethnic nationalism and threw to national prominence Sunday Igboho, Nnamdi Kanu and other organized interest. In the end, the government lost governance momentum.
At the exit of the two terms of PMB, his party sponsored a victorious candidate at the Feb 25th polls. In his campaign message, the new President Bola Tinubu passed a verdict on his predecessors. He crated a manifesto that was activist in content and rhetoric. And what was his verdict?
Simply, the President from the outset made a statement of fact that previous governments did not fulfill the expectations of Nigerians. He was right and clever to also gauge the consequences of government failure; loss of hope, and confidence among large sections of the society in the capacity and essence of government! A feeling that perhaps remain valid.
In social science scholarship, the President identified a gap with which he rallied the people for electoral victory. Amidst the frenzy of euphoria, gyration and media sensation of the election campaigns, the masses (over 133M) who are multi-dimensionally poor got enveloped in the campaigns and could not critically interrogate what, how and when their hopes would be renewed.
It is trite to say that governance is crisis management. The Tinubu government is well aware of this principle. Over four months since he assumed office, the hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal and dollar exchange disparities have continued to litmus test the direction and capacity of the administration.
The foremost labour union: the Nigeria Labour Congress and it’s counterpart,the Trade Union Congress have declared an indefinite strike action scheduled to commence on the 3rd of this month. Clearly, this is an outcome of a breakdown in talks and implementation. The hope promised by Mr President must not be reduced to vague State House press releases.
Lastly, Nigerians demand a paradigm shift. Tangible, visible, concrete & physical actions are required to tackle the challenges of the moment. Government bureaucracy by nature is riddled with delays and bottle necks, the President must act fast and now to avert the looming strike even if it requires presidential waivers to fast track it’s intervention.
Else!
There is an alternative to government; which is anarchy.
Asan Sesugh Simon writes from Sokoto
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