During the recent presidential elections, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is now the president, pledged to follow the footsteps of former President Muhammadu Buhari. This pledge became the subject of jokes by the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike. Tinubu assumed office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) certified him as the winner of the election.
However, prominent individuals in Nigeria have advised President Tinubu to be cautious and avoid repeating some of the mistakes made by his predecessor, which have caused significant damage to the country.
Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, stressed that Tinubu should avoid tribalistic and nepotistic tendencies displayed by Buhari. Instead, he should prioritize merit, equity, and geopolitical spread in his appointments to unite the country. Ohuabunwa also emphasized the need for Tinubu to demonstrate a strong understanding of the economy and avoid policy somersaults and economic mismanagement, which were evident during Buhari's tenure. Additionally, he urged Tinubu to be genuine and effective in the fight against corruption, as Buhari's anticorruption efforts lacked substantial evidence and the country's ranking in corruption index deteriorated.
Ambassador Yemi Farounmbi highlighted the importance of infrastructure development, a positive aspect of Buhari's tenure that Tinubu should continue. However, he cautioned against following Buhari's footsteps regarding security and corruption. Farounmbi criticized the degradation of security during Buhari's tenure, which started as a North-East catastrophe but evolved into a nationwide tragedy. He also expressed hope that Tinubu would adopt a more sensible and objective approach to dealing with the economic situation, unlike Buhari, who allegedly increased poverty and failed to actively combat inflation.
Chief Frank Kokori, former General Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and an APC Chieftain, acknowledged that Tinubu's statements about following Buhari's footsteps were merely political discussions. He emphasized that Tinubu, being a clever man with his agenda, would pursue his own approach and bring about changes. Kokori advocated for a genuine federal system and proper decentralization of the government. He urged Tinubu to prioritize security, fight corruption, and revive the economy, while avoiding the isolation and lack of control that characterized Buhari's government.
In summary, these politicians and prominent figures advise Nigerians to be cautious and learn from the mistakes made by Buhari during his presidency, urging President Tinubu to prioritize unity, meritocracy, effective economic management, security, and genuine anticorruption efforts. They emphasize the need for Tinubu to forge his own path and bring about positive changes in Nigeria.
