President Tinubu: His style and its critics

By Biodun Olorunnaiye

Since May 29, 2023, when Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu came into office, a discernible style has emerged in his handling of the nation’s affairs. Distinct as this leadership style is, it has elicited varying opinions and jaundiced criticisms. While some of his government’s decisions have not received endorsement from opposition elements, it is a style most Nigerians have adjudged effective in dealing with the political, economic and social realities of the day.
Tinubu has displayed a leadership style that has won him friends and foes, but most Nigerians agree they are strong decisions that are desirable for the time we find ourselves. For a statesman with a deep understanding of Nigerian politics and a proven ability to build alliances and coalitions, Tinubu’s vision continues to provide a compass for the future that looks positive.
He started by building a formidable team, an admixture of proven politicians and technocrats who have a strong commitment to the policies that drive the administration. Earlier in the tenure and in the process of selecting his core team, the President was accused of nepotism and favouritism. There were concerns that a large chunk of his appointees to key positions would be family members and close associates. He refused to be brow-beaten into changing a style that has resoundingly worked in the past and stuck to his gun. It has turned out the accusations are empty and baseless, after all.
It is actually in the character of Bola Tinubu to make strong decisions and insist on them and in this case, he assembled his team of high-quality men and women to deliver on his promises to Nigerians. To that extent, it can be said that the man has the strong will to carry out projects he is convinced would benefit the people.
In his appointments as well as policy implementation, he has remained true to the promise to ensure that all regions and groups feel represented and included in his administration’s policies and decisions. It is the spirit of inclusiveness that was evident all through his political journey from his days as governor of Lagos State, and a key figure in Nigerian politics for several decades. He is a man who has played pivotal roles in several epoch-making decisions in the political history of Nigeria.
The past year shows he has a strong presence and can inspire and motivate others to work towards a common goal. This can be seen in the implementation of his policies so far. While many of them have been perceived as harsh, the positive results which have started trickling in, raise hope that they were desirable from the start.
It is therefore easy to interpret his ability to make tough decisions and take bold action when necessary, to mean arrogance. That would be wrong for a man many see as one of the nation’s pillars of democracy. So, while President Tinubu may be strong-willed, he has an unwavering commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law.
His economic policies is built on the belief in private sector collaboration, always actively engaging the private sector to partner on infrastructure development and economic projects. In pursuit of this, he has a genuine passion for developing Nigeria and improving the lives of its citizens. He can think strategically, always looking for ways to improve and advance the country’s interests.
One sector that has greatly benefitted from his Renewed Hope Agenda policy is communications. The past year has recorded exponential growth in the digital economy while an unprecedented digital transformation has been planned for the next few years to improve governance, public services, and economic opportunities.
At a period when telecommunications infrastructure has become indispensable to digital transformation, this administration aims to draw the country to a more promising outlook which will embolden and support the people by harnessing emerging sectors of the digital economy.
According to a statement from the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, the sector’s Strategic Agenda 2023 — 2027 sets targets to achieve a 50 per cent improvement in Quality of Service by the end of 2024; to boost Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate to 70 per cent by the end of 2025; to deliver data download speed of 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas by the end of 2025 and to provide coverage for, at least, 80 per cent of the country’s population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2026. The program also aims to reduce the gap of unconnected Nigerians in rural areas from 61 per cent to less than 20 per cent by 2027; and to secure between 300 per cent to 500 per cent increase in broadband investment by the end of 2027.
To achieve the much he has done and to aim for greater heights in future, the administration leverages international cooperation. The President is actively engaging with international partners to strengthen diplomatic relations and attract key investment in virtually all sectors. Attracting those foreign investments and capital has, however, led to criticism of how the government has managed the nation’s economy.
Critics have cited concerns about rising debt, inflation and transparency in the award of contracts. While the government has tried to explain the marginal increase in the country’s debt portfolio mainly arising from some commitments from international finance agencies, the opposition says it will worsen the outlook for the future. The Lagos – Calabar coastal highway is particularly mentioned in what is cited as the government’s lack of transparency in the award of contracts.
In all, President Tinubu has proved that he is a man of his word and a leader who does not shy away from confronting the challenges of the day. His leadership style has so far been shaped by his political experience, his vision and values. More importantly, they are policies shaped by a crystal clear vision for Nigeria’s development.
Olorunnaiye writes from Ijumu, Kogi State