Will President Tinubu make Nigerians love their leaders?

By Paul Aboh

Nigerians do not believe in their political leaders anymore. There is growing intense pressure among the people. The economic downturn is hurting most families and the minuses are setting in. Society is decaying. Nigerians are disenchanted with the difficult situation as it is at present.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government was an unmitigated disaster. In 2015, his government came in with a lot of promise. But after eight years in power, it failed to revive the comatose economy. He failed to resolve Nigeria’s manifold security challenges. He left behind dilapidated infrastructure and a hungry people eating from dustbins. And the result is an angry populace; very very unhappy about his taciturn disposition and his unconcerned propensities and insensitivity to the plight of the masses.

History will not be kind to Major General Muhammadu Buhari and the government he ran for eight solidly wasted years. Definitely, Nigerians will not miss Buhari. Corruption and poverty are widespread because of his crude leadership style. And families have been ripped apart by the manifold effects of an underperforming economy. Divorce rates are high as a lot of spouses lose out on hitherto healthy relationships. Many wives have had cause to walk out of their matrimonial homes so as to search for so-called greener pastures. A lot of men cannot provide the basics for their children and longsuffering partners. And just as Chinua Achebe observed in his classical novel, “Things have fallen apart” and the center cannot just hold for most families thereby making the people angry, bitter and disillusioned.

Over 95 million Nigerians live below the poverty line. The masses feel they have been ignored and abandoned.

And so they have the right to seek for their rights. Maybe if our leaders’ heads weren’t buried in the sand of ignorance and they took the time to understand, instead of judging and thinking it won’t happen to them because they have the perfect family, perfect and stable income, life would be a little bit tolerable. This hits close to home for me, for family, friends and neighbours who live under this shadow of lack, poverty and deprivation. Millions of Nigerians are unemployed, underemployed, hungry and poor in a country that is richly blessed by God, but massively and illicitly harvested by mostly greedy and heartless politicians and exploited by some opportunistic religious potentates. Indeed, Politics and Religion, in Nigeria have become the Opium of the people.

The harsh economic situation has also disconnected friends and allies. In the most difficult moments of life you come to realize who your true friends are, and the people who really appreciate you. Most family and friends disconnect with you once your economic fortune nosedives. They vote with their feet and walk away treating you like a leper.

I decided to pen this message in support of all those who continue to battle psychologically with the ill treatment they receive from so-called friends and family whenever they are perceived to belong to the wrong side of the economic ladder. This is to tell you that you aren’t abandoned. Help is coming. God will send helpers. He will not let you down. When the children ask for bread, the father will not give them stones.

Nigerians do not believe in their political leaders anymore. There is growing intense pressure among the people. The economic downturn is hurting most families and the minuses are setting in. Society is decaying. Nigerians are disenchanted with the difficult situation as

it is at present. Where will help come from?

Our religious bodies have a big role to play in helping to checkmate these ugly economic trends. Nigerians are tired of eating from the crumbs that falls from the rich men’s table. We don’t need piecemeal attention but consistently consistent proactive action to eliminate poverty completely. Our Politicians have failed us. They mostly are interested in amassing personal wealth for the direct benefit of a select few. Folks can be trained and financially and materially empowered to help jumpstart their domestic economies. When we empower the women, we help build sustainable families. And on the long run, no one will come and beg from you. Millions can be taken off the poverty ladder in this process. The crime rates will reduce, prostitution and drug abuse will reduce and several vices will be eliminated drastically.

More economic health awareness is urgently needed. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean people aren’t suffering. Go to the villages, slums, ghettos and towns of your City. The people need help. The people are suffering. They need Good Samaritans. And yes, you could be one.

Please, try to spare a little of your time with someone who may just want to talk (about anything). Talking can help us all cope a little more, keeping things bottled up just makes it worse. Most people will say, “if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me, I’ll be there to help you” but will they?

Finally, the pertinent question now is: will the newly crowned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu change the narrative, govern well and make Nigerians begin to have faith in their leaders in view of Buhari’s eight years maladministration? Only time will tell!

Paul Aboh, a public analyst, writes from Abuja