Monday, 29th of May 2023 marked the beginning of a new era of Nigeria’s representative democracy. On this date, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Senator Kashim Shettima, who were elected at the February 25, 2023 presidential polls to steer the course of this new era were officially invested as the 16th President and the 15th Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
For many commentators, the February 25 presidential election which heralded a transition in government from the immediate past administration led by former president Muhammed Buhari to the extant Tinubu-led administration will remain a memorable period in the history of the Nigerian democracy. The election was not only keenly contested; it also shattered many myths that had engulfed political socialization and political consciousness as well as the history of electioneering in the country.
Tinubu’s victory which did not come on a platter of gold illuminated his leadership traits which have made many individuals to continue to have confidence in him. Tinubu’s victory despite several attempts by his detractors to abort him at the presidential race has been described by many as a divinely inspired plan for Nigeria. Some have also made meaning of the reality of the progressive’s ‘’renewed hope’’ campaign as a positive omen about the fate of the nation.
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His qualities are enumerated and further expatiated as thus:
- Will-to-power: Includes expression of self-motivation, determination, grit, doggedness, poise, stubbornness, perseverance or adversity quotient toward achieving a goal. Will-to-power was coined by the German Philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche.
- Expert Knowledge and
- Eye for talents.
Tinubu’s show of doggedness and grit before, during and after the electioneering period projects his clarity of vision and certainty of purpose. One could only imagine how excruciating it was for him to be rapaciously hounded by bullies and coaxed by charlatans to trade-off his ambition for his fiercely maligned reputation. However, the Jagaban of Borgu, Lion of Boudillion and latest Commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed forces stuck to his guns and never ceased to aim at the stars.
Certainly, only a man with that much focus and tenacity can lead a nation of over 200 million people without capitulating to distractions and temporary defeats.
Since the fourth republic in 1999, Nigeria has, for the first time, been blessed with a democratically elected president that is vastly learned and experienced in accounting and corporate finance and therefore demonstrates a manifest capacity to make sound economic decisions for the nation. Tinubu’s inauguration speech addressing the removal of fuel subsidy due to its failure to continue to justify the increasing cost of governance in the country and his take on the exigency of a thorough monetary house cleaning have been lauded by many analysts as a step in the right direction.
Chinua Achebe of blessed memory in his book ‘’The Trouble with Nigeria’’ described Nigeria’s major source of pain as a long history of accidental leadership in the country. Accidental leadership is fuelled by nepotism, favouritism, weak structure and hasty political recruitment etc and it promotes corruption, lack of accountability and underdevelopment.
For instance, Nigeria’s endemic problem of accidental leadership recently played out in a controversial comment made by minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu. The minister probably hoped to be exonerated of the maladministration plaguing the nation’s education sector when he publicly confessed his ignorance; he claimed he knew nothing about educational management but was merely handpicked by former president Buhari to head the sector where he lacked knowledge and expertise.
However, observers have continued to argue that Tinubu’s administration promises to foster competent-meritocratic leadership since the man in question has a reputation of fitting the a round peg in a round hole. His excellent history of sourcing and working with highly talented and spirited individuals across the length and breadth of the country has distinguished him in the nation’s political landscape. Hence, he is widely billed to set the country on a great trajectory based on meritocracy.
In representative democracy, Government is a transient institution of the state. However, the policies and activities of the government of the day indelibly shape the history of the state. As leaders of previous administrations have had their respective ways they are remembered and will continue to be remembered in history, the Nigeria’s new president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now has his Tabula rasa (clean slate) to write a new history for the nation and determine how he will be remembered many years after he is out of power.
It is anticipated that the first major issue president Tinubu will have to contend with is the problem of vested interest inspired by the elite and strong political influencers that have played key roles in his accession to power. He should remember that the best way to deal with this problem is to prioritize the public good with regard for diplomacy. Perhaps, the new head of the Nigerian Government will find insight from the teaching of Niccolo Machiavelli which I have paraphrased as follows:
Principality is founded either through the support of the elite or through the popular choice of the people. The Prince who is set to power under the aegis of the elite is often inhibited by too many demands from few individuals who feel they are his equals and that he owes them the world. Hence, to prevent his administration from being infiltrated and hijacked by these greedy elites, the prince must quickly win the people to his side by doing the common good rather than simply serving the interest of the few.