A year ago, many thought it wouldn’t happen. Prophets, men of God and their prophesies, so believably profound, even the would be President and his cohorts weren’t too sure what May 29th of 2023 would evolve into.
Fingers were crossed, hearts pounding silently, anything could happen. Eventually it came, it passed and nothing as prophesied happened. One year gone, no single prophesy of those prophets came to pass or yet to come to pass. We all know better how not to believe with emotions, what not to believe hook , line and sinker.
We know better from hindsight who those prophets were, under certain influence other than the Holy Spirit.
One year into office, one year, piloting the affairs of the country. One wonders what his feeling may be,certainly not as enthusiastic as it was prior to May 29th 2023. Like a man driven by passion and emotion whose “action device” becomes firm like a ram rod, but lowers in humility with a floppy disposition after a long engagement, so is the President now.
Emi l’o kan intoxication is weaning and the reality of what it takes to be a performing, transformational and result oriented leader very much deficient in his one year scorecard.
What happened to the Lagos state narrative? A city he claimed to have built single handedly. Now he knows by experience that Lagos isn’t Nigeria and Kaki no be leather. In comparison Lagos state is a primary school while Nigeria is a graduate school. Using the performance of a primary school student however excellent to give one admission into a graduate school of medicine is nothing but suicidal.
In a very simple explanation, the ordeal of Mr Tinubu.
He thought hasty removal of fuel subsidy could be the magic wand. He removed it, without critically thinking through it. Today, has fuel subsidy gone? What are those tangible things promised a year ago to caution the effects of subsidy removal?
Nigerians are jinxed. Suffering and smiling. Prices of things by day keep raising astronomically while the purchasing power of the masses keeps diminishing uncontrollably.
Though over 70% of those that voted didn’t vote for him. Though the election that brought him in was marked with irregularities. Though there were many shady deals covered and overlooked, which ordinarily would have posed a clog in the wheel of him becoming the President ,all that are now history. The reality is, he is the President either by hook,crook, goof, good or divine.
He is the President of Nigeria and Nigerians. He is the President who took oath of allegiance to the constitution. He is the President that should deliver dividend of good leadership, transforming lives, protecting lives and properties, giving hope for a renewed Nigeria where the corridor of power ceases to become a festering pot for corruption to a place where values, ethics and morals are entrenched.
One year gone! Three years remaining. Can Nigerians say well done for your one year of visionary leadership Mr President? One year of renewed hope for a better future? One year of rekindled love for this country? Or would it be a one year of harsh economic policies? hardship? Corruption? Dollarization?
Three more years to go! Enough to either put smiles on the faces of the masses or inflict more pains with scorpions.
Rate yourself! Score yourself! Sincerely assess yourself Mr President and tell us if you can thump up your chest proudly and say indeed I have done well within my first year in office.
Of course you and your allies would score yourself pass mark. Are Nigerians happy, happier or saddest ever, scraping up life, eating from the crumps from the bin of abject misery?
The transiency of your office is as transient as time. It ticks independently of ones thoughts and wishes. It ticks, even when one would want to keep it stand still for selfish reasons, it ticks. Your time ticks and the opportunity to replicate your overly bloated talked about wonders of Lagos ticks away, getting blurry by day.
As your time ticks, posterity waits patiently to sit in judgement on your four year tenure stewardship.
Your “device” was firm and strong, vibrating to engage a year ago. Expectations very high, enthusiasm, emotions and fantasies at their peak, now that it has eaten the emi l,’o kan honey pot,how far? Fallen and floppy, weak and spent! See emi l’okan honey pot see you! Still waiting for the wonders of Lagos.
However floppy your device has become, it must rise and finish the rounds. Emi l’okan no be for mouth!!
The truth is Nigerians are not happy. Hardship everywhere. Make a difference now or marr yourself forever. Three years is enough for your Lagos magic to happen.
Happy one year survival anniversary Nigerians. The road very rough and bumpy, slippery spots everywhere, but we survived it.
Jarlath Uche Opara can be reached via Jarlathuche@gmail.com
