Tinubu’s one year in office: Not yet time to celebrate

It is the tradition that governments and individuals alike mark important days in their lives; sometimes with fanfare and other times with things symbolic, depending on the season. It is in this context that we reflect on the announcement to the effect that the Tinubu administration will be marking its first anniversary in office.

On Friday, April 19, the Federal Government through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation inaugurated a 28-member inter-ministerial committee to organise and oversee activities to mark President Bola Tinubu’s first anniversary as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, underscored the importance of the celebration. According to him, the event would provide an opportunity to showcase the achievements of the prevailing administration and its commitment to the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.

In his words, “The essence of this celebration is to render accountability to Nigerians by promoting the accomplishments of the present administration over the past year and also reassure our citizens that the government shall remain focused and committed to the implementation of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ for a positive impact on the socio-economic life of Nigerians”.

To ensure a memorable outing, 11 sub-committees, including Church Service Sub-Committee; Juma’at Sub-Committee; Protocol Sub-Committee; Venue and Entertainment Sub-Committee; Medical Sub-Committee; Security Sub-Committee; Media and Publicity Sub-Committee; Parade Sub-Committee; Public Lecture/Symposium Sub-Committee; Accommodation Sub-Committee; and Secretariat Sub-Committee” were raised.

These times are not for celebration, nothing fundamentally has changed since the present administration took office, and Nigerians are further impoverished through poorly calibrated government policies. One year after, Nigerians can hardly afford a three-square meal per day, they hardly commute from one location to another due to prohibitive transportation fares, petrol queues have remained a permanent feature of the energy sector despite being a premium exporter of crude oil, killings and kidnapping of innocent Nigerians by terrorists are continuing with no sign of abating, and there is widespread corruption while government is borrowing more money and increasing the debt profile of the country.

Only recently, the price of electricity was hiked for a population whose minimum wage is N30, 000. Indeed, Nigerians are being taken for granted. Where is the cause for celebration? If anything, these times call for reflections and re-calibration of government policies to improve the well-being of Nigerians. Celebration in whatever form is to mock their condition of abjection.

It would be recalled that President Tinubu was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission winner of the 2023 presidential election on March 1, 2023, after polling 8,794,726 votes to defeat his opponents and was subsequently sworn in on May 29, 2023. But given the above depressing objective conditions of Nigerians, there is nothing to celebrate. It is simply time for the government to re-dedicate itself to the service of the Nigerian people. This can be achieved through a nation-wide broadcast.

On the occasion of the 63rd independence anniversary, this administration was wise enough to shelve any ceremonies. In fact, it put out a statement to the effect that the celebration would be low-key. No fantastic jamboree at the Eagle Square and other locations. The government had noted that “Independence is a historic event for any country and we Nigerians are no exemptions…We are fully prepared for celebrations and for obvious reasons, it is going to be low-key and we are wishing Nigerians the best of luck and I want to assure them that better days are coming and pretty soon too”. It added with a solemn note of responsibility, “It’s a time for reflections…to think very deeply as a people. This journey is being charted by the captain of the ship”.

The question is: what has changed? In our opinion, nothing, and the journey is not over. The labour time is not over, untill after abundant harvest when there will be something to showcase. If the proposed anniversary is to showcase achievements of the Tinubu’s administration, there is no fundamental thing we can point to as yet. The government should avoid subjecting itself to ridicule and pursue policies that people can identify with and praise the government for. The greatest sin a government can commit is to embark on the path of self-delusion. Those being governed are not fools; they may be reticent but should not be taken for granted.

The decision of the presidency to make it a low-key celebration, as announced by the Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris, is good, otherwise, it would have cost money and will rob the country of needed resources for development and service to the people.

And very soon, it will be time to mark June 12, which is Democracy Day. Therefore, the point is reiterated that a national broadcast will do the job of commemoration, and explaining government policies, challenges, and what is being done to surmount them. President Tinubu, this is the way to go.