Who Will Tell President Tinubu?

Daemi Kunaiyi-Akpanah

Your Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila was my colleague during my time in the House. He knows me well and can confirm to you that I’m not given to frivolities. I write to you as a concerned Nigerian citizen praying for your success in tackling our country’s myriad problems. I have followed your journey closely – from your days as a democracy advocate with NADECO, through your involuntary exile to the UK; your return to Nigeria and subsequent emergence as Governor of Lagos State, and now, by the Grace of God, the President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am glad to have witnessed your leadership style and do believe that you possess both the capacity and the will to transform our beloved country if you so desire.

“O God of all creation; Grant this our one request; Help us to build a nation; Where no man is oppressed, and so with peace and plenty Nigeria may be blessed.”

This final stanza of our reintroduced national anthem aligns with the sentiments of many Nigerians, who, despite facing numerous challenges, remain resilient and optimistic about the future. Your administration’s decision to reinstate the original anthem at the beginning of your tenure in office appeared to signal some hope for good governance and nation-building.

You recognised that after more than sixty years of independence from colonialism, Nigeria is still far from nationhood and remains a country of diverse peoples in search of shared goals. Your implied vision of nation building resonated deeply with Nigerians, particularly those of us from the Niger Delta and other minority groups who continually face systemic marginalisation. If this prayer is indeed your vision for our country – then there is hope for light at the end of the tunnel!

Effective nation-building, however, demands strong and accountable leaders who demonstrate commitment not only through their reforms and actions, but by their body language as well. Please remember Mr. President as you embark on building a nation “not to speak is to speak, not to act is to act”

Having been born before the country’s independence from the colonial masters, I have had the privilege of living in a Nigeria that was once a land flowing with milk and honey, led by people with a conscience.

Between 1954 and 1964, Eastern Nigeria boasted the fastest-growing economy in the world. Up until 1980 the Naira exchanged for approximately $1.50 in international markets. Over the years, I have also witnessed the gradual and painful decline of our economy and core values. Political office is now perceived as an opportunity for personal gain rather than as a responsibility to serve the public. Those entrusted with overseeing public assets often brazenly convert them for personal enrichment, seemingly without repercussions.

Political power has become an instrument wielded, without remorse, for the benefit of office holders and their cronies. Public officials ignore the concerns of the people, confident of their immunity from consequences. I’m sure you will agree that this troubling trend, if allowed to continue, risks normalising unethical behavior among future leaders with dire and predictable implications for our grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Eighteen months after it has become your turn, I am hopeful that you will begin to address some of our major concerns moving forward. Recent nationwide protests underscored the fact that bad governance is viewed as our greatest obstacle to sustainable development.  The protests also presented an ongoing opportunity for you to change our narrative and inspire a renaissance of values and morality. A simple gesture such as committing to a zero-tolerance policy toward bad behavior can catalyze significant change, and many Nigerians stand ready to support any leader who embraces this ideal.

With the removal of fuel subsidies, you have already demonstrated the resolve to make the tough but inevitable decisions.  You have also for the most part surrounded yourself with people who hopefully share your vision for Nigeria. However, the growing perception of a dysfunctional judiciary, more interested in pursuing everything but true justice, raises alarms and could pose an insurmountable obstacle to your wonderful vision of nation-building.

 A Chatham House survey conducted in 2022, revealed that an astounding 61 percent of respondents anticipate bribery in court judgments. Many judgments, particularly in cases involving elections and political figures, appear to defy both logic and justice, fueling suspicions that they are influenced by external pressures rather than being grounded in the law. This erosion of public trust undermines the foundations that must be laid for us to even begin to dream of a functional society.

In such a society, the judiciary serves as a beacon of hope for ordinary citizens, ensuring justice and fairness. Its role in fostering accountability, promoting good governance, and advancing social progress cannot be overstated. If any meaningful progress is to be achieved toward this dream, it is essential for your administration – and indeed all Nigerians – to hold the judiciary to the highest standards of integrity ensuring it embodies the ideals of our national anthem. It must not be allowed to become a tool for anyone. “Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.”

The hope for our nation lies in our collective ability to demand accountability and uphold the rule of law. As Desmond Tutu famously noted, “If you are silent in the face of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” In an ocean of chaos and confusion, it is imperative that the judiciary remains an island of sanity, stability and clarity.  This, unfortunately, appears very far from being the current reality.

 Of great concern also is the ongoing divestments of oil and gas assets by multinational companies in the Niger Delta. I hope that these activities are being conducted in a manner that ensures proper representation of the local inhabitants who will bear the consequences of the devastation left behind once the oil is exhausted and the companies have departed.

Additionally, the recent dissolution of a Niger Delta Ministry that was established with a clear mandate is also very troubling. I am uncertain how the newly formed Ministry of Regional Development will encompass this mandate and whether it can deliver on it more effectively.

I will withhold further comments until there is greater clarity on these developments. It might be quite revealing, however, if a searchlight was to be beamed on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) but I will save that discussion for another time.

In closing, I share the hope of all patriotic Nigerians.

 “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous and terror to evildoers.” (Proverbs 21:15)

 Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Long live the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!