“When people say they are wronged, the sensible thing is to examine their complaint and produce a remedy, or convince them that they are under misapprehension”.
Sir Ahmadu Bello
Time is bringing about changes in our faces; events will continue to unfold. Occasionally they look like our own. Sometimes, they reflect the circumstances we found ourselves in. We must, therefore, carefully craft our progress, which will shape the course of our history. Since as long back as we Nigerians can remember, we have been yearning for a better country. By taking control of our destiny and electing leaders who can steer the country, we will make it a reality.
The zeal of the new president, Bola Ahmad Tinubu, beckons optimism for the populace as he started making courageous decisions and daring moves ever since his inauguration day. It is a peculiar victory of society that he must persuade the people he has spoken to by sticking to his convictions and making decisions that will ultimately be in their best interests.
Our needs bind society together, and if we keep talking about the goals we have for the future, it will help us stay connected. We all understand that subsidies must end, if not immediately, then certainly in the future. Then, many people may wonder why the newly elected government made such an abrupt choice. The withdrawal of subsidies is a brave move for the new government, but Mahmud Jega was right when he stressed that it must be made during the honeymoon phase. The kind of government in place was thus depicted, as well as how highly regarded its decisions may be.
The NLC had already started organizing for a national protest, as it had usually done over the years; this time in 2023 after previous attempts in 2012 under former president Goodluck Jonathan and 2016 under president Muhammadu Buhari had failed. The government convened a meeting with the NLC and TUC during the mobilization period. Both parties reached an agreement at the meeting’s conclusion, and the strike was subsequently put on hold. Given the 250% increase in the price of PMS, it came as a major surprise to some that the strike action had been called off. It appears that the government is prepared for this battle in order to resuscitate our economy at a crucial juncture.
Those agreements seemed to have been made with great care, which will allow for a significant amount of the problem to be addressed. Nobody anticipated a solution to be reached within the time limit of the engagement between the TUC, NLC, and the Federal Government, which appeared to be successful. The government’s intention to serve its citizens has been demonstrated simultaneously with this motion. The president has ordered the National Economic Council (NEC), headed by the vice president, to devise a strategy and start developing measures to lessen the impact of the loss of subsidies. Likewise, the oil marketers’ group has pledged to provide 50–100 compressed natural gas and diesel-powered mass transit vehicles. This is done in an effort to lessen the effects of the subsidy removal.
It must be kept in mind that society holds similar views that are influenced by reality and the events that will determine their future. It is thought that the 2023 election forced the populace to wake up from a prolonged period of sleep, which ultimately led to a path of unease. Now it is clear that any governor who doesn’t satisfy the needs of the people he is in charge of will probably lose the re-election. As we have seen in Borno state, it is quite easy for a governor to be reelected for a second term if he fulfills the expectations of his people.
As we’ve seen, the new state governors had all started their jobs in their own special ways. The people will have more faith in the decision they made as a result of this. Yes, some difficult choices must be made in a time of transition like this in order to accomplish the intended objectives. The action taken by the governor of Kano, demolishing some properties sold by the previous kano government, is not the right course of action. What is wrong with looking at the method that they used to acquire those properties before making any decisions as the persons who bought them would have done it legally? Does it seem like the Kano state government is enforcing lawbreaking? It’s a different scenario in Sokoto, where the new administration has annulled all appointments made in the final days of the previous administration, including those made to positions of permanent sectaries, director generals, traditional leaders, and senior sultanate councilors. Zamfara has its own set of allegations, including claims that the former governor stole other government property in addition to seventeen exotic cars worth N1.2 billion.
The truth is that newly elected governors starting their first tenure need to focus on key issues in their states rather than trying to defame their predecessors due to differences in political party. The major opposition parties triumphed in those states, which are all in the North West and include Kano, Sokoto, and Zamfara. The newly elected governors have the opportunity to make change and leave to their peoples’ expectation. It is a turning point for NNPP, the only state where the party has the biggest population, just like in the case of Kano. This is a key time to focus on the populace and provide for their needs. Zamfara State has experienced a lot, and for Governor Dauda Lawal, this is a turning point for the narratives to change.
Holding our leaders accountable is important, if we want to know where we are going. We must actively participate in the decision-making process in our current battle for a better future. We must also pay great attention to the choices that will define who we become. We may be on a trip that, as we near a turning point, involves choices that, while first tasting bitter, ultimately turn out to be sweeter in the end. And this is excellent in terms of growth—it takes time and goes through difficult terrain, but the end result can be a triumph.
It appears that we are at a turning point where our political actors must decide whether to keep their word or break it. You have the chance to change Nigeria for the better at this crucial juncture in history, to jolt history from its slumber, and to write your names boldly in the minds of the people as heroes of democracy.
Isah Aliyu Chiroma can be reached via aliyuisahchiroma29@gmail.com
