By Haruna Aliyu Usman
From the time democracy returns to Nigeria precisely in 1999, key problems of Nigeria are insecurity, corruption and absence of governance at all levels. Many governments use same to campaign to poor Nigerians.
During former president Olusegun Obasanjo, we witnessed mild insecurity but corruption thrives despite the anti-graft agencies which the then president used as tool to silence political opponents instead of uprooting corruption as such their presence was not felt. The only success achieved then was heads of such agencies enriched themselves.
Now talking about insecurity, which became a serious during late Umar Yar’Adua. During Goodluck Jonathan, Boko Haram had field day killing, maiming and raping innocent Nigerians to worsen it they gave it religious colouration by targeting churches and Christian town, intent being to set the Christians against the Muslims. Even as Kano had a huge slice of mass attack at the mosque which claimed lots of lives, the entire north east was under siege despite huge billions spent to contain insurgency, sadly such huge monies went to private pockets living the victims high and dry.
Persistent insurgency became conduit pipe to siphon billions. Though there are some tactical changes from Boko Haram to banditry who kidnap for ransom being sponsored by some untouchable Nigerians and no government seems to have the muscles to fight them. Former president Muhammadu Buhari severally promised to unveil them, but that was not done eight years after. The ability to make public the sponsors of insecurity was blocked by pervasive corruption as it remains a menace no government seems to be ready to holistically fight.
Let me now focus on the theme; disparity between Tinubu and Buhari governments, which last week I tried to spot the difference, but I could not because six months down the line, there was absence of governance the president was absent. Now recent developments have given reasons to believe he is now present. We saw the presidential hammer mercilessly landing on heads who deserves the hit.
Nigeria is now gradually witnessing a president that is present. Our worry is can the president break the jinx of “At the end nothing will happen a slogan on the lips of Nigerians when the government begins manhunt of alleged treasury looters”. Can the president give credibility to the anti-corruption fight or he only bow to pressure to recoil when the dust settles down, it remains to be seen.
We commend the suspension of the embattled Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Dr. Betta Edu, sack of heads of BPE, NSIPA and a host of others who got the presidential hammer. Mister president, if you sustain the crusade by overhauling our judicial system to ensure the victory of anti-corruption fight, you will write your name in gold in the history of Nigeria as one president who gives us the reason to believe that indeed no one is above the law. For now, I have seen the disparity between the successor Tinubu and predecessor Buhari. Could Tinubu be the proverbial messiah we have been waiting for or would he allow politics to kill the good work he has started.
Finally, one fact and one appeal to mister Tinubu is that,the boldness which you used to remove fuel subsidy, use same to open all land borders to allow food supplies. The fact is no palliatives will ever cushion the effect of subsidy removal till the end of times.