By: Okosun Dennis

Whether we appreciate the core value of nationhood or not, the fact is that Nigeria has evolved among the comity of nations as an independent country that have survived several trials, tribulations, war and plethora of insecurities in the midst of economic woos. 

Quintessentially, from the standpoint of growing critics to the angle of ice-cream conformists and to the unstable table of political pundits, and to the negative free thinkers, who hardly see anything good germinating from the country, attaining 66 years after coming out from the turbulence of colonial hegemony, in itself, hasn’t reposition the country for greater heights.

Security and politics were not given so much consideration in his speech. Reason? Nobody can really say! However, the fact is that those significant topical issues might to be the subject of discourse in the days to come as political parties intensifies their campaigns.

At the moment, the hugest challenge threatening the fabrics of the country remains endemic corruption by successive administration especially by post second republic politicians, a practice that has metamorphosized into a spiraling effect and remains anathema. This has, sort of clogged the nation as a behemoth. 

However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Independence Day speech was quite reassuring in theory but seems not to be so in practical terms, as greater percentage of the citizens are still living below poverty line while some cannot afford basic three-square meals a day.

Unfortunately, in his speech, two fundamental things were missing – the problem posed by insecurity and 2027 general election. Whether they were intentionally crafted or an omission, remains to be seen.

However, President Tinubu noted in his speech said: “I mean a Nigeria in which the farmer can cultivate his land safely, produce more at lower cost, and earn a decent return for his labour. A Nigeria in which factories have reliable power, businesses can obtain credit, and young people can find productive work. A Nigeria in which food and transportation are affordable, education is within reach, and hard-working families can look towards the future with confidence.”

Without doubt, these are products a citizen of any sovereign nation should enjoy, wallow in with ease without creating a chasm in his pocket. From the standpoint of some analysts, these seem more of a wishful thinking as farmers are still afraid to go to their farms in many parts of the country for fear of being kidnapped or killed by ubiquitous bandits, who slip into their farm land and decimate them.

Beyond that, some who dared to defy the clouds of insecurity, have had sundry attacks from herdsmen who destroy their farms while their cattle eat up their crops.

In the transportation sector, it is not yet Uhuru. Isn’t getting better either despite federal government promise to revolutionized the sector with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles that assured of about 120,000 conversions with an investment profile of about $2.5 Billion with the intention to produce over 10,000 jobs while delivering “affordable, sustainable transportation for every Nigerian.”

Within the transport sector, Nigerians are groaning, facing the realities of high cost of transportation. Commuters are complaining that despite some commercial vehicles converted to the use CNG, nothing tangible as some of them even charge higher fare than those using fuel.  

Acknowledging that the journey in nationhood hasn’t been easy, President Tinubu understood the dynamics of political prosperity but is not punchy sending the right message to politicians who are bent of turning the world upside-down if they lose election or through brigandage wants to capture the polls.

“Our journey has not always been easy. In truth, it has generally been too hard for too many. We have endured war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity and political upheaval. Yet through it all, Nigeria, with the indomitable spirit of its people, has endured.”

Bearing these in mind, the corrupt mindset of the political class has dealt the nation great disadvantage that seems to kill every initiative that government has itemized to build a virile and strong economy. Unless you are competitive, you cannot sell. As a nation, how competitive are we? To what extent have we been able to export some finished goods that have become a toast at the international market? What are some of the comparative advantages accruable from some of these products?

Instead of channeling resources into developing our economy, rescue the poor energy sector and strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to meet the realities, some individuals in high places siphon it to build castles they might not live for a decade before their demise. They keep and hold liquid cash hostage in their homes and covens without investing it in profitable ventures that would grow the economy.

The nation has endured and would continue to, but what protection do the farmers enjoy as the president alluded to in his brilliant speech? “It has endured through the efforts of the farmer who rises before dawn to work his land. The trader who opens her shop each morning, hopeful for a productive day. The teacher who believes in the children entrusted to her care and the young entrepreneur who refuses to surrender ambition to circumstance. We are grateful for the men and women of our Armed Forces and security services who place themselves in harm’s way so that the rest of us may live in peace.”

Acknowledging the invaluable contributions of the Armed Forces and Security Services, nothing more was said of the prevailing insecurity in every part of the country where some people are brazenly seized by criminal gangs for ransom. Even as Nigerians celebrated, about 18 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were kidnapped in the South East. Right now, those children are in the thickest of the bush in the hands of their enemies, tormenting their lives.

Quite recently, some senior citizens had their lives cut short after been kidnapped by bandits. The likes of the late Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar (retd), business men and women including some politicians who died in their captivity, are still fresh in mind.

In a situation where those who should be assisting the government in their private life to provide solution to security challenges are been taken out, leaves much to be desired. In schools, some children are no longer safe and their teachers’ becoming more vulnerable and victims of circumstance. The recent Ibadan and Borno kidnap of school children and the slaughtering of two of the teachers, would leave an indelible mark in the quest of the nation to fight against the nuisance value of criminal gangs.

“This faith, which sustains us all, is the inheritance of independence. Our founding fathers did not struggle merely for a flag, an anthem or a place among the nations of the world. Independence carried a larger promise: that Nigerians would have the freedom to shape their own destiny and build a nation capable of providing opportunity, dignity and a better life for its people. Sixty-six years later, Almighty God has made it our responsibility to deliver that promise.”

Despite the huge investment on infrastructure, how much has that translated in jumpstarting the economic prosperity?

Again, the seeming violence tailing political campaigns and the quest of the political class to subjugate others and the violent utterances, even among federal ministers, are vital issues that were missed – deliberately – in the president’s speech. We cannot discountenance the fact that between now and the general election in January 2027, a whole lot of things needed to be addressed.

First, the political class, irrespective of party persuasion, must bridle their mouth. No nation prospers under political system that lacks tolerance. At the moment, the music is unpalatable; the dancers are fanning the ambers of war and the onlookers are shopping for weapons of defence. Therefore, where the Centre cannot hold, things will definitely fall apart. Therefore, the federal government must ensure that the right thing is done to avoid political clashes during campaign prior to the general election.

Security wise, it would have been auspicious to have the President in his Independence speech address, caution the political class with a strong statement to deal with anyone that create commotion of instability and chaos.

Insecurity is a global challenge but when it’s domesticated, it can gravitate into a pandemic with the potentials to wipe a generation. Therefore, every nation will always guide against such occurrence due to its sensitivity and sensibility.

In the last couple of months, cases abound that ought to draw a compelling need to caution all the political actors irrespective of party affiliation.

Prior to the build-up of Osun governorship election, Senator Francis Fadahunsi’s controversial comment calling on his party faithful to “kill Accord” members drew more dust than the sky could accommodate. Also, Muhammad Gadaka, Chairman of the All-Progressive Party (APC) during a party rally in Nangere LGA of in Yobe, unashamedly urged women in the state to leave their husbands if they prevent them from voting for the party. Really!

In the same vein, in Esan West Local Government Area, Ekpoma in Edo State, the Chairman Blessing Albert Ebhodaghe went gaga at Onitsha Park in Ekpoma, warning commercial drivers that they must wear only APC-branded caps and materials or face removal from the motor park, and went ahead distributed APC caps on the spot. Just few days ago, the loquacious Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike (Esq.) dismissed the planned 2027 opposition coalition as “dead on arrival” and went on to vow to resign if President Bola Tinubu loses the FCT and Rivers State in the 2027 elections.

In a matured political environment short of brigandage and winner takes-all mentality, these shouldn’t be happening especially in an environment struggling to lose grip of spiraling insecurity orchestrated by Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal gangs.

These are glaring facts that ought to have caught the thinking of the President’s speech writers. Some of these comments are verisimilitude of an explosion waiting to happen. Whether deliberately left out or not, the fact is the President should use other avenues to address some of these concomitant recurring political developments that will constitute a red flag towards 2027 General elections.

Relying on the theme “From Reform to Prosperity,” the president and his team seemed to be doing the right thing injecting all manner of reasonable and productive reforms that would galvanize enduring prosperity.