One year has passed. The bold economic reforms Tinubu started have faltered. On day one, he had removed petrol subsidies with a pumped fist. But one year after sounding revolutionary at oath-taking, his government now pays petrol subsidies through the backdoor. And because nobody bothers with transparency, Tinubu hasn’t informed the public how much he now spends on petrol subsidies. Policy reversals have become a permanent feature of his government.
By the time Tinubu formed his government, some of his most stubborn supporters realised it wasn’t precisely the Tinubu of the early 2000s. Cronies were rewarded. Political hustlers who did dirty jobs during the elections were appointed to high offices. Tinubu no longer cared about professional competence or moral appeal. Some said he actualised Awalokan, the mother of Emilokan. Others said it was more narrow-minded because it was all about Lagos.
One of the benefits a politically savvy Tinubu was supposed to bring was national unity. Buhari had a disdain for party politics and political compromises. Tinubu was the dyed-in-the-wool politician who should wheel and deal without flinching. An astute politician ought to know that gracefulness in victory would douse many flames. Tinubu won about 8.8 million votes from 90 million registered voters.
The president ought to be conscious of the picture his opponents paint of him. If they portray him as stupendously wealthy by cornering revenues of a state and land grabbing, then during his tenure as president, he must seek to avoid anything that reeks of conflict of interest in government business. During his presidency, he must seek to stamp out corruption and impunity. As president, he can’t afford to promote politicians whom the EFCC has fingered for corruption.
As it stands, elections in the country are doomed without new legislation. If election disputes aren’t concluded before presumptive winners are sworn in and given access to the treasury and coercive forces of state, then the odds will continue to favour and encourage the win-at-all-costs mentality.