We must have it in mind that the president is a person, but the presidency is an institution—one of three co-equal branches of government. Think of the institution as all the bureaucracy surrounding the president to help her do her job. The people, entities, and agencies who help the president—who make up that bureaucracy—are called the president’s cabinet and the Executive Office of the President.
And you need the right individuals to run these systems. And we all know that Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a track record of garnering the brightest minds around him. It is evident how he rose through the ranks in the Private sector, with Mobil, and transformed Lagos into the third biggest economy in Africa. He is indeed a Capitalist.
His political template seems to reel around how much he considers getting the right minds onboard. Although, considered to be a political thief by many who seem to be peeping from afar. In many societies across Africa, rich and wealthy persons are hated by default – a taste that is more bitter for Politicians, because of their positions in public affairs.
By all indices, Asiwaju seems to have changed the political discussions in Nigeria. A major player in the ever-simmering democratic clamour in Nigeria. While many Nigerians disagree with his scorecards in governance, other Nigerians still perceive ‘he may be the Pan-African democrat of the century.
Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, sprawls inland from the Gulf of Guinea across Lagos Lagoon. Victoria Island, the financial center of the metropolis, is known for its beach resorts, boutiques, and nightlife. And of course Lagos can seemingly be tagged as the Hub for Entertainment in Africa. A city that accommodates some of the brightest talents on earth.
Many seem to have leveled into critical arguments on who really built Lagos. “Lagos used to be the Nigerian national capital. Before Nigeria was formed, Lagos was a colony. You had all the infrastructure for economic development. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu did not establish them.”, A spokesman of the Atiku Abubakar 2023 presidential campaign, Dr Daniel Bwala, has disputed claims by supporters of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, that he (Tinubu) practically built Lagos as governor of the state between 1999 and 2007.
Would it be okay to say he single-handedly built Lagos? No! But he crafted envious micro-economic templates and buffered it with a few institutions that earn for the State. He expanded the State’s economy and brought reforms needed to attract direct foreign investments to Lagos. Although, Lagos still remains Lagos – similar taste still buds from military administration.
“I have come to change the story. We will develop education, health, security, and empower youths and women to make Lagos work for all.” Mr. Tinubu said during the 1999 elections. Many say he seems to know his political forte. It is quite correct to assert that he is arguably the most connected Nigerian Politician alive. They say he has made more than enough Politicians to sustain his evidential mileage.
Now, he wants to occupy the highest office in the land. He seems to have optimal confidence in his possibilities to reset an oil-producing nation with a nosediving economy. “He knows how to converge the right minds. Look at the track of Governors that has run affairs in Lagos after he left office. Fashola is a pragmatic, Ambode was amazing and studious towards governance, and Governor Sanwo-Olu is that astute politician with all the international relations guile.
While the opposition’s party flag-bearer and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar is no new folk in the business, former Anambra State governor and rave-of-the-moment Peter Obi whose sensationalism continues to simmer across the board. Most of the stooges say he doesn’t bother much, he is only concerned about delivering results. His scorecards as a Senator and Governor resonates deep with his intention to always deliver when given the mantle to take charge.
He is focused on running an all-inclusive system of government. He wants to key into the wave of digitalization. He spoke about precision agriculture, which is trending toward complete automated solutions for farm efficiency, increased yield, and less waste. He dotted on how he intends to curb insecurity in Nigeria. He hasn’t stopped emphasizing on the effect of education to societal change and economic growth. But is he really that trailblazer Nigeria desires in 2023?
