News Editor
By Prince Mark Elayo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promulgated very radical policies that have greatly shaped our country. In less than two years of his administration, the country has seen groundbreaking decisions that will redefine the polity in quite a long time. Immediately after taking the mantle of leadership on May 29, 2023, he waded through the murky waters many before him had dreaded by abruptly announcing removal of the fuel subsidy.
The petrol subsidy was an albatross around the nation’s neck—preventing it from making any economic progress. Former leaders had expressed this concern but they clearly lacked the will and power to tackle it. But President Tinubu dealt the mythical monster, a mortal a blow! That was the epitome of courage, doggedness, strong will and strength in solving a nagging problem that had defied past leaders.
The Tinubu administration has engendered infrastructural transformation never seen before since the advent of democracy in Nigeria. The massive road construction across the country has elicited commendation from well-meaning Nigerians.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for instance, has witnessed in less than two years what the previous administration could not do in eight years. Projects that were left uncompleted, causing inconveniences to residents have been completed, giving the city of Abuja a brand new look and new lease of life.
The construction of the coastal road promises a huge transformation on the Lagos-Calabar corridor cutting across nine states. The economic boost this singular project can bring is monumental.
Also, the tax reforms initiated by this administration are just what the country needs at this time. But it takes a leader with an uncommon courage and foresight to execute them. The achievements of the administration are very glaring for all to see.
I must, however, point out to the president as a major stakeholder in the North-central Nigeria, what my people’s major dilemma is today. They seek only one thing—to put an end to the incessant attacks on them so they can return to their places to continue to undertake their economic activities. It is my prayer and desire that the president should graciously give due consideration to the concerns of my people and tackle the insecurity they are facing head on.
We in this part of the country have faced a serious existential threat in the last couple of decades. This is in the form of herdsmen/bandits attacks. The whole country knows that crop production is the mainstay of our people’s economy. This is what we live on.
However, in the last decades, countless farming communities have been sacked by the activities of herdsmen/bandits. Able-bodied men and women have fled their ancestral lands to become idle hands in what has become known as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in make-shift camps. The situation in Benue, Plateau and Niger States is particularly pathetic.
Persistently, armed gangs invade villages to kill, maim and destroy property with countless lives lost in the process. This is crude, barbaric, uncivilized and diabolical.
This has been with us for too long. It robs us of the humanity in us. It does not tell good of us as a people. We have become a laughing stock in our country and the comity of nations.
We therefore, implore the president to once again, use his magic wand to deal with this ugly phenomenon. The president should engage dispassionate statesmen and entrust them with the responsibility of ending this problem.
We have had enough of denials. We have allowed selfishness, sentiments and prejudices hinged on religion, ethnicity and regionalism to becloud our sense of reasoning, thereby preventing us to be sincere in our collective approach to solving this problem.
Volumes of research works have been published on how to tackle the malaise yet the will power to execute appears lacking among our people. We believe that this administration under the able leadership of President Tinubu can decisively deal with this ugly situation.
Of course, we are immensely grateful for the much the president has so far done for us. By appointing one of us the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) alone is enough show of his love and care for us.
Also, recently, the president signed a bill to create the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC).
The philosophy behind NCDC is to tackle the numerous development challenges and promote economic growth, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of infrastructure in our region. We are not oblivious of this because it marks an important epoch in the history of our region.
However, we would ask for one more thing—help us to chase away the marauding herdsmen to allow peace to reign in our land. This will be an added and the biggest gift this administration can give to us.
No one else has the power to do this other than the Asiwaju, a man who has no religious, ethnic and regional biases against the people of North-central Nigeria or any part of the country for that matter. We look up to this administration because there is no other one that can muster the courage to do it.
May the gods of our land continue to be with the president.
Elayo is the Turaki of Keana, Nasarawa State
