The DAWN Commission congratulates Nigeria’s new President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. There are however, enormous challenges the new President of Nigeria must tackle in order to meet the overwhelming expectations of the populace. If Nigerians and Nigeria are indeed to be better for this change, there are key areas the President must concentrate on as a matter of urgency. The assurance however, is that if anyone can be described as most prepared to take on a gargantuan task such as the leadership of Nigeria in this testing and challenging times, it is Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.
The Commission, in a congratulatory message signed by its director-general, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, said Tinubu has a proven track record of taking the tough decisions and as a true democrat he expects the deepening of the nation’s federalism and prioritization of reforms that will strengthen the nation’s democracy.
The President should make immediate and visible changes to the way government does business. Personal interests must not be allowed to take precedence over the collective interests Nigerians.
Dr Oyeleye in his statement asked the President to hit the ground running and lead the country into a political dimension that unites the people of Nigeria and usher in socio economic reforms that provide a basis for incremental and practical developmental gains
Dr Oyeleye was very critical of the prevailing social orientation which he described as “warped”’. We are fast becoming an ‘anyhow’ people. Nothing is sacrosanct anymore, our values are badly corrupted, our ethical fabric is completely damaged and our attitude to doing the proper things and doing things properly are corroded. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in a position to help Nigerians recover their social orientation and use it as a potent and dynamic force for peaceful co-existence, honest living, dignity of labour, sanctity of life and morality in both personal and official conducts
Political appointments must be merit-based. The composition of the President’s cabinet is an immediate signal that would provide very strong indications of what lays in store for Nigerians. The President should fill his cabinet with competent, ethical people and reform-minded people. Putting the best and the most competent hands at the helm of affairs will allow for smooth, effective and transparent running of the new government. Appointees of government must imbibe the virtues of servant leadership and not be lords in the manor.
He is confident that as president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu would take steps to create order around Government and present the presidency as a coherent and potent force for meaningful and impactful governance. “We particularly call on Nigerians, to give their 100% support to the new administration. No development plan, no matter how well thought out, can succeed in a rancorous polity.”“We call on Mr. President to start strongly, as he has promised. We expect the tough decisions to be taken as soon as possible, especially on controversial issues of subsidy and state policing.”
Oyeleye described Nigeria as a large country with a huge population, with great promise for progress, prosperity and sustainable development. She has had numerous challenges and difficulties over the years, but now there is a chance to fulfil her glorious destiny. He is of the view that for Nigeria to succeed, the constituent States/Geopolitical Zones must first be empowered and enabled to succeed. The Federal Government must no longer be in competition with the States, rather they must work in complementarily for results. There are things that are better handled by the States or at the level of Geo-political Zones, and those things should be left to them and vice versa. There are also things that are best achieved by working and collaborating together as mutual agents of development. The Federal Government should avoid a situation where it has taken more than it can shoulder. Rather it should empower the States and the Regions to do more and together everyone achieves more.
Management of the National Economy
The Tinubu Presidency should see the Federal Government become the key enabler of economic growth across the country’s geo-political zones. Indeed, the geopolitical zones should become centres of thriving economic activities. The Federal Government should desist from the current methodology of managing or controlling the economy in a centralised one-size-fits-all fashion. Each Region should be helped and supported to concentrate on their areas of comparative and competitive advantages. Human capital development should also be made to align with the respective development priorities and aspirations of each of the Regions.
The Federal Government should play a supporting and coordinating role through effective political and economic governance institutions as well as with programmes, schemes and incentives for socio-economic growth. In that manner all the Regions will be playing to their strength and the end result will be a Nigeria that is economically transformed, politically stable, and able to hold her own among the comity of nations.
“A national policy that will invest meaningfully and efficiently in Nigerian youth is also of utmost urgency to restore their faith in Nigeria,” the statement said. There must be a focus on the young people in the country. They must be properly engaged and included in governance so their creativity, energy and drive can bring about a restoration of confidence in their country. Nigeria must become a country which they believe in and a country that works for them.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a chequered history as a true democrat and must strengthen the pride and dignity of Nigeria. Nigeria must provide more leadership in the global community, and Nigerians all over the world must be proud of their country. He asked everyone to support the Bola Tinubu Presidency and join hands to better the lot of the country.
Dr Oyeleye also highlighted that the DAWN Commission will be a partner in progress to the new administration. We are available in any way that the Federal Government would like to make use of our institutional capability as a non-partisan, regional development agency owned by the States of Southwest Nigeria.