Even Tinubu and his government agree Nigerians are passing through dark days

One thing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his government and the opposition now agree on is the fact that Nigerians are passing through dark days under Tinubu’s watch.

So far, however, he has continued to refuse absolute blame for this situation even as his critics not only blame him for it but also say he and his government have displayed lack of capacity and willingness to save suffering Nigerians.

So, over this critical issue, the areas both Tinubu and his critics disagree on include who should be blamed for the darkness and the attendant sufferings in our land; whether or not the incumbent government is doing anything reasonable to save unfortunate Nigerians from their current bitter realities and such like.

There is also the issue of what the Nigerian people should do in the circumstance, especially now that another general election is around the corner.

Admitting that the current darkness has caused extreme hardship to Nigerians, Tinubu recently promised that “the dark days will soon be over.” He pleaded with the people to keep hope alive.

The President made this promise during the 66th Independence Day Jumat prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja, last Friday.

He was represented at the pre-October 1st Independence Day event by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

It is important to note that Mr. President has come to a point where he formally admits knowledge of the sufferings of Nigerians.

In a saner democracy, this common point should be the takeoff point for meaningful national discourse and search for a tangible solution in this all-important area.

But the way some top government officials and ruling party’s henchmen continue to defend what should never be defended and to deny what is of public knowledge continue to hurt President Tinubu’s chances in 2027 elections and to make a mockery of the so-called Nigerian democracy as they only help to confirm suspicion of insensitivity on the part of our current leaders.

Why would a defender of a government that has steered the ship of state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria open his or her mouth in public to say or to imply in his/her utterances that Mr. President should not be blamed for the sufferings of the people of Nigeria today? Such ridiculous defence can only come from the mouth of an ignorant nonentity who knows nothing at all about the duties of a President in a modern nation state.

It is a pity that these kinds of ignorant defences continue to come in an attempt to exonerate President Tinubu and his government for his continued supervision of national sufferings while he and his associates swim in ocean of unimaginable wealth, luxury and comfort.

It is almost four years now, since the current government took over governance, but some jesters are still arguing that Tinubu should not be blamed for the people’s sufferings as he has, according to them, “done well” in what they called “macro-economic recovery.”

In my opinion, this line of argument can not be helpful ahead of the 2027 Elections. In fact, it is surprising that a man or woman who claims to be informed enough to publicly defend a government or a ruling political party in an Election Year will continue to tell common electorates who are battling hunger and hardship about some so-called macro economic victories their government has allegedly made, victories that only left them still hungry and frustrated.

It is even worse to hear them argue that the causes of the sufferings were the actions or inactions of previous governments and not the current government.

If you ask me, I will say this kind of argument is a clear admission of gross incompetence on the part of a government after being in charge for almost four years.

If one may ask, what then is the essence of the institution of the government in the first instance? Is it not to initiate and to carry out policies that will ensure better and more meaningful life for the people than the what was the case when the government took over.

If the reality, for any special reason differs, I will expect such a government to communicate same with more humility and honesty. If a government so humbles itself and genuinely seeks ways of doing better, I believe the people may understand and most likely cooperate with it.

For example, I hold the view that this government has not done well in the management of the people’s sufferings and the hunger in the land.

So, I believe it would have been better all these while for this government to publicly admit failure in that area and other critical areas it knows it has failed. Then, it would be wise for the government to genuinely seek ways of doing better in such areas.

It seems however that until now, this current government seemed to have deliberately decided not to make such admissions of failures and weaknesses. This, in my view, is a grave error for we all know that no human being is above failure.

The wise can testify that admission of failure attracts even one’s opponents’ empathy but stubborn defence of obvious failure can justifiably be seen as a valid confirmation of insensitivity.

• Samuel Hezekiah Egburonu Esq, is a lawyer, veteran journalist, literary scholar and current affairs analyst