By Olakunle Agboola – In a significant show of unity and endorsement, former Nigerian presidents have collectively passed a vote of confidence on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The gathering, which took place in Abuja, the federal capital city, is regarded as necessary to boost Tinubu’s leadership, offering a rare moment of consensus among the nation’s past leaders who have often held differing views on governance and the direction of the country.
The National Council of States (NCS) and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum rose from their separate meetings on Tuesday, 13th of August to pass a vote of confidence on the one-year-three-month-old administration of President Bola Tinubu.
While the National Council of States comprising past Presidents, some Ministers, and governors, among others held their maiden meeting with President Tinubu presiding at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, the Nigerian Governors Forum afterward met separately with the President also at the same venue.
The Council of States Meeting was attended by former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan. Also, former Heads of state, General Yakubu Gowon and Abdulsalam Abubakar attended virtually. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida were conspicuously absent.
Briefing newsmen after the meetings in Abuja, the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, stated that the meetings came up with a resolution to pass a vote of confidence on President Tinubu having listened to presentations by some of his Ministers on the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said: “We indeed had a very robust meeting. The high note of the meeting was a unanimous passage of a vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu, Commander in Chief of the Nigerian armed forces.
Members, especially those of the Nigerian Governors Forum, were satisfied with the presentation by the members of the Federal Executive Council. After the meeting, there was an executive session between members of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Mr. President’’.
Also briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Council of States meeting, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake said the meeting which was well attended showed a very eloquent testimony to the kind of support that they are giving to President Tinubu.
He explained that many issues were discussed at the meeting with seven members of Tinubu’s cabinet making presentations before the Council members.
“A lot of issues were exhaustively discussed at the meeting. And of course, you know that, apart from the former heads of state, the Constitutional composition of the Council of State includes all governors, security advisers, Attorney General, and the rest. So, the governors were all in attendance as well.
Some of us ministers are invited to make presentations on our road map on what we’ve been able to achieve cum the prospects and the challenges in our various ministries. The Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and the finance minister, Mr Wale Edun were also in attendance to make a presentation. The Minister of Budget also made his presentation including The Minister of Works Trade and Investment.
Seven ministers made individual presentations to the council of state meeting, and our presentations were well received from the feedback we got immediately after the presentations”.
Alake further revealed that the security situation in the country was extensively discussed with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu assuring that the nation is well secured despite the recent peaceful protests #endbadgoverment across the country.
President Tinubu, who took office in May 2023, inherited a country grappling with numerous challenges, including economic instability, security concerns, and social unrest. The administration of Tinubu has since embarked on several initiatives aimed at revitalizing the economy, strengthening national security, and promoting social cohesion which has not all been realized.
There has been a mixed reaction from Nigerians as regards former presidents passing a vote of confidence on Tinubu’s administration. Critics have highlighted the necessity of tackling the insurgency in the Northeast, systemic corruption, unemployment, cost of government expenditure, addressing the spate of kidnappings and banditry, and implementing economic policies aimed at reducing inflation and promoting local production.
Critics also emphasized constitutional reformation and corruption in the electoral process cum judiciary that upheld Tinubu as Nigeria’s president.
Deji Adu a Nigerian political analyst emphasised that Tinubu’s administration is a total failure. ‘The Nigeria situation now is laughable, and I can’t get what the vote of confidence will do for the average citizens who do not know where the next meal is coming from.
When failure begets failure, it becomes easy for the likes of Buhari, the former president of Nigeria to pass a vote of confidence to his successor. APC brought this woe upon Nigeria, and we can’t continue to deceive ourselves if we are to move forward.
Nigerians are scattered all over the world because they are tired of the structure of political rulers that have kept Nigeria in perpetual bondage. We have fantastic thieves in government who only care about themselves, and do not think about the average citizens.
This bunch of organized thieves brought Nigeria to where it is today, and it is becoming difficult to pull down their political structure of corruption. Why should a blessed nation like Nigeria parade the likes of ‘emilokan’ and ‘agberoism’ in government? They have nothing to offer other than looting.
Tinubu keeps awarding contracts and appointments to his political disciples, monopolizing the commonwealth of Nigerians for their advantage. How long will it take to live like second-class citizens in our own country? Nigerians are scorned by the world when we can’t fix our country.
We lack direction, ideology, prospect, and vision for the next fifty years as a nation. We deprive those who can set a good ethos for a nation to prosper, while nonentities parade the political scene. How long will it take to put Nigeria in her rightful position and be respected as the giant of Africa?
When will Europe, America, and Asia respect us as the true representation of the black race? When would Nigeria be ready to dignify Africa? When are we awakening to our responsibility as the crown of Africa? I am done because I am getting emotional now.’’
Tinubu’s leadership style has been described as logical, inclusive, and forward-looking to take Nigeria out of the economic wood. The supporters have continued to state empirical facts about why Tinubu is the best for the job and should be given more time to fulfill his mandate.
Wale Oni, an APC (All Progressive Congress) member has not relented in his effort to campaign for Tinubu. He believes in Tinubu’s ability to build consensus across different political and ethnic divides, which has been crucial in navigating the complex dynamics of Nigerian politics.
Wale Oni and many other Nigerian citizens believe that Tinubu’s administration will make Nigeria a living paradise, and that is why a vote of confidence was passed as assurance that the best brains are at work.
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