OPINION:
Watching Chairman, Hope Uzodinma of the Progressive Governors Forum open the why of opposition governors’ sudden interest in President Bola Tinubu, I was not only impressed but couldn’t help but marvel at the president’s strategic approach to governance.
It rarely occurs that politicians of all parties unite in this fashion, but Tinubu’s determination to deliver has clearly worked magic.
The statistics are eloquent. Imo State’s monthly allocation has risen from N5 billion to N13 billion since the coming to power of Tinubu, a record 160% increase. It is not an accident but the unmistakable result of the efforts of Tinubu to re-engineer the tax base and curb revenue losses.
That the governor can now carry out projects without borrowing shows the doability of the president.
But what’s even more stunning is the ripple effect this is having in other states. Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has proudly acknowledged that Tinubu’s involvement saved his government from strangulation under debt.
This is not one success story in isolation; it is a pattern of good governance being emulated throughout the country.
So, what is Tinubu’s magic? It is not kayamata, that mystical love charm that some will seriously suggest. Rather, it is because he has been loyal to delivering tangible results and reorganizing the system at the helm.
By so doing, he’s created a platform on which governors of other parties are forced to coalesce behind him, not for political expediency, but because they are convinced by his vision for the country.
This is a lesson in good governance that we would be wise to heed. For too long, our politicians have been stuck in petty bickering and rhetoric devoid of substance, while the country goes to pieces.
Tinubu’s approach is a breath of fresh air, a reminder that politics can be a force for good, if approached correctly.
Yes, of course, there’ll be critics who decry the manner in which Tinubu is operating, who claim he’s bribing opposition governors with the threat of more money. But to me, I say, so what? If it results in Nigerians living a better life, then so be it. The empty politician days of promising without delivery are certainly over now, and Tinubu is taking his time.
Nigerian governors should also take note and hop on the bandwagon, lest they are left behind.
In short, Tinubu’s formula for winning over opposition governors is no secret at all. It’s a vow of good governance, a commitment to getting things done, and a vision for a better Nigeria. Let us hope that this is a trend that will be sustained, and that our politicians will take a cue from Tinubu’s example to create a brighter future for our country.
