The countdown to the much awaited May 29 inauguration has begun in earnest with the return of the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from holiday abroad. It was a triumphant entry right from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to his house. Supporters all over the country turned what started like heroic welcome to a festival of a sort as drummers, praise singers, women and men heralded the would-be 16th president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria back.
Never have we seen such love for an incoming president. Since his return, it has been meetings with strategic partners on how to hit the ground running after mounting the saddle. He had had meetings with the military hierarchy, the progressive governors, National Assembly leadership aspirants and his close allied.
For the risk of being tagged an alarmist, I can say here that the exchange of baton from President Muhammadu Buhari to Tinubu on this D-Day comes the arduous challenges of how to stir the ship of Nigeria containing over 250 million citizens on board. Will the new president have broad shoulders to lift this big giant with his Renewed Hope? Or will he be overwhelmed with the hydra-headed monster and burden of Nigeria?
From his track records, it will be apt to conclude that the new Sheriff in town has prepared himself for this position and job in the last 30 years both as Senator and governor of Lagos State. To say the least, he is well equipped and ready to be the great turnaround captain that Nigerians have been waiting for. He’s bold and swift at progressive decision that will have impacts on the social well being of the citizens.
His charisma and integrity will fetch him recognition of the citizens. His transparency and citizen-driven philosophy in governance will continue to guarantee partnerships between government and the citizens. His major strength as head hunter will avail him opportunity to select his team of excellence to turn around the fortune of this country within the first four years in office and Nigeria will become a country of choice destination among comity of nations.
Tinubu’s personality as embodiment of humility, capacity and excellence will continue to endear the country to more partners and the image of the country will soar among the international community. This will, in turn, attract foreign investments which will address unemployment, increase our GDP and reduce social challenges in our country.
As grandmaster of modern democracy and progressive politics Tinubu knows the values inherent in democracy which he fought for religiously..
From my crystal ball, I can sound it loud and clear even as an industrialist that the author of renewed hope philosophy is poised for serious business of governance by formulating policies that will serve as catalyst for industrial revolution in Nigeria and put the nation on the highway for astronomical growth.
Although, I’m not an economist by training; as a top businessman with sound knowledge about how economies of nations grow, I can see light at the end of Nigeria’s darkest tunnel. I can see smiles on the forlorn faces of many Nigerians and industrialists.
Yes, the task before Asiwaju is enormous, but he already has a template to work with. That’s why I am worried about the so-called experts who are too emotional about borrowing during Buhari’s regime. Their worry should have been how Buhari applied the fund he borrowed.
Buhari did not borrow fund for consumption but to fund infrastructure and the projects are visible across the country. Those who borrowed in the past have nothing to show as evidence of the projects they executed with the fund. They borrowed for consumption, which in my view, is unacceptable. Nations across the world that are dreaming of industralization must target infrastructure renewal. It’s the minimum template for industrial development.
If United States of America is still borrowing, then there is nothing bad if Nigeria borrows as long as the fund is appropriately applied, moreso that the incoming president is an authority when it comes to figures. He is equally an apostle of ‘don’t over-burden’ Nigerians with increases, but expand the tax base by creating new opportunities and businesses.
The blue economy (ocean economy) has been left untapped for ages while maritime nations like Singapore, Malaysia, Norway, Greece have maximized theirs. It’s therefore my clarion call to Asiwaju that it is time we took advantage of what the president D.G of NIMASA is doing. Dr. Bashir Jamoh has done huge advocacy about the potentials in our blue economy and why the much talked about CVFF should be made available to ship owners. It will stimulate and serve as a catalyst for growth of our national economy. Our incoming president should see this sub-sector as part of the low hanging fruits.
It’s time that our incoming president put the energy of our youths between the ages of 15 – 35 to work to increase productivity of the country. Entrepreneurship training and Development of our youths should be the focus. Our textile factories should be revamped to stimulate economic growth and generate employment.
Entrepreneurship which is about skills acquisition should be inculcated in our schools curriculum from secondary schools to the University level. The era of white collar job is gone forever so our youths should have new orientation in this respect. We must change the narrative of our youths seeking for jobs after schools, when they should be employers of labour.
Our incoming president should embark on massive training of our youths and deploy huge investment in them so that they can continue to promote their business rather than seeking for Jobs.
In less than four years, these set of new business owners will become tax payers. This is what is making Lagos economy to rise. We can replicate this at the national level.
With the incoming president’s commitment towards full implementation of his renewed hope agenda, Nigeria is on the pathway to prosperity. The era of our youths embarking on ‘ Japa’ syndrome, even in most cases with borrowed fund more than enough to set up thriving businesses in any part of the country will be curtailed.
.Otunba Sola Olatunji, Chairman of Ikale Heritage Development Association, IHDA, writes from Lagos
