REFLECTIONS ON PRESIDENT TINUBU'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE
REFLECTIONS ON PRESIDENT TINUBU'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE
by Adesola Yaqub
The
president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu delivered
his new year message early in the morning of the new year day. The 16 minutes
speech was apt, a summary of the trajectory of his administration since
inception in May 2023, to where things stand and also a projection into the
future and the things to expect by Nigerians. A cursory dissection of the
speech would make one to draw a conclusion that we are seeing a president who
is passionate about the transformation of the country, in ensuring that things
work.
He
commenced by giving gratitude to God and thanks to citizens. He acknowledged
the fact that the year that just finished was an “eventful and challenging
year” referring to the general election, the mandate, the nation’s transition
and transfer of power, making it yet another big step on our democratic journey
as a nation. The president reiterated through the speech, the core of his
renewed hope agenda for Nigeria. One will but acknowledge that the president
lives with constant and sensitive consciousness of the plights of citizens. He
made reference to difficult and yet necessary decisions taken in the efforts of
putting the country in the right footings and their effects on Nigerians, as
well as the biting inflation. “I hear the groins of Nigerians” and the
popular question on the lip of everyone, is this how we want to renew our hope?
He however, through the speech, gave reassurance and call for love and faith in
his administration and Nigeria.
The speech
is handy as a timely channel of stewardship by the president as he gave
exciting updates on some fundamental national issues of interest, especially,
what is happening to power being driven by the Presidential Power Initiative
(PPI), government’s efforts on local refineries and production, as well as
agriculture and security. On agriculture, the speech captured that 500,000
hectares of land shall be cultivated during the next raining season, a build up
on the dry season irrigation farming that is already ongoing, this will be a
bold step in confronting hunger and food security as well as nexus in the
administration’s economic recovery plan, job creation, poverty eradication, as
well as microeconomic stability, human capital development and social security.
For those
who are out to say enough of rhetorics, the president is an inch ahead, he was
quick to mention that he is on oath to serve the country and always give his
best. He was emphatic to say that “no excuse for poor performance from my
appointees would be good enough”, that is to say, you either deliver or
exit. This for me, is needed, right, timely and appropriate. The president
reminded the nation that he has set up a Policy Coordination Evaluation
Monitoring and Delivery (PCEM&D) Unit in the presidency to make sure that
governance output improves in the living conditions of our people. He went
further to say “we have set the parameters for evaluation”. By this
singular act, president Tinubu has technically returned power to the people.
Citizens are thereby enjoined to take up the monitoring and evaluation of
performance and government deliveries, as a civil and democratic way to demand
good governance under the ambit of the law and the provisions of the
constitution. Let us engage these ministers and other employees, as well as the
members of the National Assembly in constructive engagements by asking
appropriate questions and build a public opinion of them by their responses and
actions. As for the president, he has again reiterated to Nigerians, his major
ambition in government, he said it is “to build a fair and equitable society
and close the widening inequality gap, while I believe the rich should enjoy
their legitimately earned wealth, our minimum bargain must be that, any
Nigerian that works hard and diligent enough will have a chance to get ahead in
life. We will work to give every Nigerian equal opportunity to strive and
thrive to yield benefits as individuals and collectively as a people.” This
is indeed golden and should be always kept in our conscious minds. We should be
sincere and courageous enough to remind the president whenever we see things going
in the opposite direction of this his stated major ambition.
The
extension of olive branch to his election opponents is pleasant, patriotic and
commendable. The president reminded all that elections are over, its time to
build the nation and he said the job of building a prosperous nation is our
collective responsibility. He admonished that we should not work at cross purposes.
As Nigerians, we should work for the peace, progress, prosperity and stability
of our country. This is indeed statesmanly. There is no better way to put it
than how the speech captured it, “we must let the light each of us carries,
shine bright and brighter to illuminate our path to a glorious down.”
One can
draw assertion from the new year broadcast that the president is serious,
passionate and determined. However, one would expect that the speech would capture
a moment of remorse to workers who did not get their salaries until the holiday
is finishing. Also, citizens would want to hear the president talking tougher and
acting harder on the war against corruption and blocking of leakages and
wastages in government.
The new
year speech by the president is an energizer, it delivered hope and excites the
nation. We can only wish President Tinubu a successful tenure.
God bless
Nigeria !!!
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