Author: Adesoji OMOSEBI
THE Presidential elections of February 25, 2023 was the most keenly contested since I knew my left from right in the annals of the history of Nigeria.
We had four top contenders to Aso Rock, Abuja, they are, Peter OBI of the Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rabiu Kwakwanso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TINUBU of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The election has come and gone, a candidate emerged winner as announced by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu. It is now history that Yakubu announced Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TINUBU as the President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but two of the candidates, Atiku and Obi are still challenging Tinubu’s victory at the Election Petition Tribunal
pending the outcome of the legal battle, Tinubu will be at the helm of affairs.
As Muhammadu Buhari is stepping out from Aso Rock, Tinubu is going in to face the challenges of leading the most populous nation in Africa.
Tinubu’s coming will take supernatural intervention of God to bring Nigeria back to its glorious days.
My fears about Tinubu’s presidency are not far fetched considering the precarious situation of our economy, security, education, social vices, corruption as has never been experienced since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
Either by acts of omission or commission, Buhari is leaving Nigeria worse than he met it with generational debt portfolio.
Buhari’s administration is noted for borrowing, as at the time of writing this piece, our debt portfolio was over Seventy Trillion Naira with humongous sum still waiting at the National Assembly for approval.
How will Tinubu, as a President, bring back our economy? How will he fight terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and corruption?
Sometimes I wonder what are these candidates fighting for in Nigeria?
Is there any hope for survival? Our economy and cohesion is in shambles, it will take our Lord Jesus Christ to bring our dead Lazarus back to life.
How will Tinubu unite our major religions, the Muslims and the Christians who are supposed to be agent of peace and tranquility but has torn the country into shreds?
What will Tinubu presidency do to the invading herders, ethnic cleansing in Kaduna South, Benue, Plateau States and unnecessary shedding of blood in the South East?
Debates for removal of subsidy is gathering momentum everyday. Can entire Nigerians endure removal of another fuel subsidy when the ruling government has increased pump fuel price from N70 to over N200 per litre, yet still thinking of another removal.
How many times will subsidy be removed? Economic analysts encouraging the removal of fuel subsidy should not back-out if the resulting effects bring social upheavals.
No one is talking about reviving of our refineries or recovery of stolen funds that will enable the masses to have a sigh of relief, at least, for once.
The genesis of terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and other vices in Nigeria was because our commonwealth are not evenly distributed. What would have gone round have been looted by few powerful people in the society. Those that were caught with stolen billions of Naira are walking free with audacity to fight back when the authority has no political will to prosecute them.
My prayer, is, Tinubu will not be stoned for what he knew nothing about in the streets because Nigerians can no longer exercise any patience for another rounds of pains and agonies.
My instinct told me there is no way Nigeria can get better without first going through excruciating pains. I hope we would be able to endure the pains ahead of us without revolting against a wrong leader for the inefficiency of his predecessors.
There is no doubt that Tinubu is capable of turning around the economy but can Nigerians endure the pains associated with it.
In view of the above fears, I would keep my fingers crossed for Tinubu to prove me wrong that he can do it.
I had earlier put my hope in Buhari presidency, unfortunately, my confidence in Buhari was like when your fiance call it quit on wedding day when guests are already waiting at the event centres. I was highly disappointed as my hopes were dashed.
Mind you, Tinubu is still the best candidate among the top contenders.
If the United States President, Joe Biden is our new president I doubt if he can make any difference. Nigeria is a difficult nation to lead.
My consolation is in the fact that if Governor Babagana Zulum can turn around the war torn Borno State around, there is hope for our turnaround.
First task before the new President to carry Nigerians along is to work on how he and those at the top can be trusted, tell us the truth and lead by examples.
On this note, I wish Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TINUBU successful tenure to take Nigeria to our ‘Goshen land’, our ‘Promise land’ flowing with milk and honey. If this happens, his name will be written as someone who has been written off, underrated but has now become our chief ‘cornerstone’.
Adesoji OMOSEBI is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of SOJ WORLDWIDE ONLINE NEWS.