The truth is that Tinubu has been making mistakes that may cost him a second term. His war threats against Niger Republic following the ouster of Mohammed Bazoum and his unapologetic romance with France make it easy for people to believe anything said about him. Whether what Tchiani said is true or not, it doesn’t matter to the average Nigerien or the people of Northern Nigeria.
Tinubu has damaged our long-term relationship with Niger, and his foreign relations experts have been unable to defuse the tension after this diplomatic catastrophe. I need not tell you that maintaining a good relationship with your neighbors is more important than relying on any imperialist country in faraway Europe. The hefty allegations cannot be dismissed with a BBC Hausa interview with the NSA. Any expert in International Relations will tell you that.
Tinubu’s economic policies have compounded his problems. He relies on some obstinate “experts” who believe that only their opinions matter in fixing the country’s economic mess, which he inherited. His so-called “courageous” policies have plunged the country into a deeper economic crisis. Hunger, skyrocketing food prices, increased transport costs, and insecurity are what Nigerians have been battling daily since May 29, 2023.
Like his predecessor, who “damalmala-ed” the country from 2015 to 2023, Tinubu has ignored early warnings.
My worry is this: let him not plunge this country into war because of the ambition of his small Lagos circle, as they are called.
The opposition, on the other hand, seems more confused than the president himself. By now, one would expect an alliance between the PDP, NNPP, and Labour Party to provide Nigerians with direction. Unfortunately, the Wike factor in the PDP is tearing the party apart. Many people who won elections under the Labour Party are leaving the party in trickles. The NNPP cannot even resolve an emirate crisis that has turned Kano into a laughingstock across Nigeria.
How can we expect these people to provide direction in 2027?
Kabiru Danladi Lawanti, Ph.D.
