By Pascal Chimezie

The Tinubu administration clocks two years on May 29, 2025, after its inauguration on May 29, 2023. How has the journey been so far? What is the scorecard? Some weeks ago, two of our super ministers, Nyesom Wike of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and his Ministry of Works counterpart, David Umahi, led other pack of ministers, heads of departments and agencies of the government to the United Kingdom, not only to present the scorecards of their ministries, but also to unveil what they called President Bola Tinubu’s ‘legacy projects.’ In April 2025, Tinubu himself took leave of two-week ‘working visit” to France just to ‘reflect’ on his administration’s chequered reforms. While he was there, many states in Nigeria, especially Plateau and Benue, were literally on fire as bandits and terrorists wiped out many communities. There was virtually nobody on ground to quench the fire since Tinubu retained power for day-to-day administration of the country to himself, not transmitting it to his Vice President Kashim Shettima to act in his capacity.

We are living in an interesting time. But it is a time that tries men’s souls, as Thomas Paine, the 19th century French revolutionary and political philosopher, put it. Ours is a land of strange occurrences. It is difficult to tell our brand of democracy. But, for sure, it cannot be the one in which people’s interest matters, or the one defined by Abraham Lincoln as, ‘’government of the people, by the people and for the people.” In our brand of democracy, power does not really belong to the people; unless, by delusion, we want to believe so. What constitutes essential features of democracy are not flyovers, bridges, or coastal highways. Mere existence of a Parliament, as third arm of government, is no longer enough sign and symbol of a democracy, as our present national experience tends to show. Democracy is not manipulation of the people, propaganda and lies. Democracy is centered around the people. A functional democracy delivers happiness and prosperity to the people. It respects the wishes and fundamental rights of the people. It is anchored on the rule of law, and institutional checks and balances.

All attention now seems focused on the 2027 reelection bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ignoring immediate grave dangers of existential threats of insecurity and hunger facing all Nigerians. His four year mandate has almost gone halfway mark without much yet on the ground to justify even the thought of second term. Notwithstanding the ‘’Tinubu is working’ mantra, our Constitution clearly specifies the yardstick to measure or assess any performing or failed administration. Section 14, subsection 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, states that, “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Upon these two key criteria, ‘security’ and ‘welfare’, Tinubu’s administration is a long way down the road. Economy is nothing to write home about. And the twin evil responsible for that is the unconscious declaration of ‘subsidy is gone’ on the day of his inauguration, and the floating and devaluation of the nation’s currency. Thus, under Tinubu’s two years, Nigeria has produced more misery, more poverty and more hopelessness for its citizens. Security couldn’t have been worse.

In a report published in ‘The Punch’ of September 7, 2024, it was reported that “since President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, Nigeria has seen a dramatic rise in violence, with 13,346 people killed and 9,207 abducted across the country.” The report was put together by Beacon Consulting, a firm which specializes in security risk assessment and management, attributing the upsurge to “terrorism, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, and other forms of social unrest.’ Government countered the report by claiming that it was winning the fight against insurgency, with ‘no fewer than 8,000 terrorists and bandits neutralized’, according to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle. Remember, this report was last year. The situation has grown worse, dire, and seemingly irredeemable. Nigeria is teetering on the brink of totally being overrun by bandits/terrorists, as different new terror groups mutate. From Sokoto to Zamfara, Katsina to Kaduna, Niger to Plateau, Benue to Kwara, to Borno, Islamic terrorists, bandits, and Fulani herders have turned the Nigeria into a mass grave, painting the entire landscape with blood of the innocent. And we have a government which makes bogus claim of achievement.

We have come to the stage where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should, as a matter of responsibility address the nation on the worsening insecurity in the country. He should tell Nigerians what, in practical terms, he is doing to halt the killings nationwide. He should do this because ‘Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces’ is not a mere chieftaincy title, which anybody can take. It is a decisive action oriented appellation. And he who is so called by the title must act decisively in tandem with high sense of responsibility. He should also explain to Nigerians who the bandits and terrorists really are, and where they come from, especially in the light of several reports of foreign active collaboration and local sponsorship. Where did those helicopters allegedly flying into the terrorists’ den in the thick forests at odd hours come from? Nigerians deserve to know what is actually going on. We cannot continue to live in oblivious of the clear and present dangers threatening our collective existence.

On Monday, May 11, 2025, these terrorists invaded the base of the 153 Task Force Battalion, Borno state, dislodged the troops, burnt armoured tanks and made away with ammunition and military platforms. This much was confirmed by Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, member Representing Kanke/Paskshin/Kaman Federal Constituency of Plateau state. Speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf expressed grave concern about what the trend portended for the safety of Nigerians. “Mr. Speaker”, he started, “the pictures I saw, I am sacred, I am sacred, whether the safety of the civilians within and around the Nigerian territorial land can be guaranteed. Mr. Speaker we budgeted for money, arms and ammunition and tanks numbering more than 40, including other platforms belonging to the Nigerian military, that is meant to safeguarding our people, that is worth trillions of naira, (all) have been taken away by boko haram.” He then asked despondently, “How can we guarantee the safety of all Nigerian people in the circumstance that the platform that is meant to protect the people has been taken away by these people (terrorists)?” While unspecified number of soldiers were killed and captured, others deserted.

As soldiers were deserting, our politicians are also deserting in unprecedented gale of defection across the country. Worst hit is the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the sitting Governor of Delta state, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his predecessor and former vice presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 election, Ifeanyi Okowa, joining the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), in a bizarre display of political harlotry. Other PDP governors are said to follow suit soon.

Much as Nigerians would be anxious to show President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s hardship regime the exit door in the next election for his lack-luster leadership and poor governance, 2027 looks a done deal for him. The reason is not far-fetched. The electoral system is still what it is: vulnerable, delivering regrets and failed opportunities. And President Tinubu that we all know, unlike President Goodluck Jonathan, will be unlikely to initiate any meaningful electoral reform that will lead to his political suicide. It will never happen. It partly explains the current desperation to cajole more states to cross-carpet to the ruling party in order to seize and control their political structures. But there is danger unforeseen. This desperation to hang on to power against the wishes of majority of Nigerians may prove a costly mistake likely to further worsen the fragile peace and unity of the country and seriously threaten its corporate existence. And failure to carry out a comprehensive reform to restore electoral integrity is also a recipe for disaster waiting to happen. The earlier we seek wisdom on how to navigate the treacherous path ahead of 2027, the better we staved off collective danger. But for a half year mark of Tinubu’s Administration, it is unmitigated disaster.

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