Bravo, President Tinubu: Saluting a novel Media Engagement!

Few days ago, the Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu, for whom I have been one of the harshest critics, especially regarding his foreign policy faux pas, stunned me again with another admirable performance.

That’s just two weeks after I saluted him for his bold steps in managing Nigeria’s internal policy and politics. Read the article, On President Bola Tinubu: Between Critique and Admiration, here

President Tinubu’s performance at this first media interaction on Monday, December 23, gave me hope that Nigeria has a future.

For those not versed in Nigeria or African politics, where presidents are regarded and treated like gods, it might seem out of place to offer fulsome praises to a leader, which leaders should do in normal societies - talk and interact with the ordinary people. Tinubu broke this jinx, and for that, he deserves praise. His unscripted engagement with the Nigerian press at this encounter represents a significant milestone in Nigerian leadership; It signals a refreshing break from a culture of opacity and mystification that has marred past administrations.

Tinubu’s decision to field unscripted and “inverted” questions from media representatives marks a bold and commendable shift toward transparency and accountability in leadership.

Woah. No one saw it coming when it was announced that Tinubu would address the nation. In an unprecedented move, Tinubu invited Nigeria’s leading media representatives to Aso Rock, allowing them to engage him in an unscripted, open-format dialogue. Even the assembled veteran media practitioners were stunned.

One of Nigeria’s most prominent journalists, Dr. Reuben Abati, could not hide his surprise and admiration at Tinubu’s willingness to directly face the press without the protective buffer of fawning aides or rehearsed answers. “I have covered Nigerian presidents for decades, and I can say this is unprecedented,” Abati gushed. “The president faced us squarely, answering questions with a candor and confidence we are not used to seeing.”

The former Presidential spokesman further noted that this form of engagement allows Nigerians to see their president in his truest human form - a sharp contrast to predecessors who relied heavily on scripted speeches and obsequious aides. “For once,” Abati continued, “we were treated as professionals and not as an audience for pre-packaged soundbites.”

Of course, Tinubu’s performance did not come close to that of V Putin - without a doubt, the best Global leader who could hold his fort for hours of robust intellectual engagement without breaking a sweat. Nevertheless, he did his best.

Putin has mastered the art of direct engagement and elevated it to a spectacle of intellectual rigor. He fields questions on diverse topics—from domestic policies to global geopolitics—from Russian citizens, foreign journalists, scientists, and corporate leaders.

Putin’s ability to engage in lengthy, in-depth discussions, answering challenging questions without visible hesitation, underscores his mastery of policy and governance. His willingness to address thorny issues, sometimes sparring with foreign media representatives, exemplifies leadership rooted in knowledge and confidence. While Tinubu has not yet matched the breadth or depth of such performances, his recent press interaction shows promise and a willingness to grow into such a role.

The most praiseworthy part of Tinubu’s media performance contrasted sharply with his predecessors, who avoided unscripted interactions with the press or ordinary citizens. Instead, they opted for carefully curated appearances or releases by the army of rented mouths they employed. Former President Muhammadu Buhari, for instance, is a taciturn who rarely addressed Nigerians directly, often relying on aides to communicate his policies. Obasanjo was too garrulous and combative to deign to talk to lesser beings. Goodluck Jonathan has neither the mental nor intellectual competence to engage in any discussion above kindergarten stuff.

Ironically, Dr. Abati, who praised Tinubu above, was the rented mouth who laundered Jonathan’s image. Nigerians should ask why he did not organize the same event for his principal.

Buhari as president was in a different universe altogether. Aloof and arrogant beyond description, he carried himself like one doing great favor by governing Nigeria (misgoverning was more like it). Despite the best efforts of his paid Vuvuzela-blowers, Buhari’s approach fostered a culture of detachment, where Nigerians felt alienated from their leaders and disconnected from the decision-making process.

This is what made Tinubu’s case unique and worthy of salutation. His candor, humor, feel-at-home attitude, and willingness to address even uncomfortable questions demonstrate his confidence in his leadership and respect for Nigerians.

Kudos to Mr. Onanuga and his crew for organizing this much-needed shift in governance tone, especially when the country faces severe economic and social challenges.

The most remarkable thing about the media encounter was Tinubu's supreme confidence. The president appears like a man who is totally at peace with himself. He oozes the confidence of MKO Abiola, the man he claimed to be his Mentor.

Tinubu’s boldness began as soon as he took office and decided to stamp his authority on several economic issues that previous presidents had not dared confront. His one-plus years in office have been marked by bold, albeit controversial, decisions addressing Nigeria’s longstanding economic woes. He removed the scandalous fuel subsidies, unified the exchange rate, and launched initiatives to improve the country’s revenue base. He has sent a bill to the parliament to reform the tax laws.

Of course, Nigerians groan because the measures have brought significant short-term pain. Still, any student of economic history should know that they are necessary steps for long-term economic recovery. Nigerians should ensure that Tinubu stays the course and is not allowed to veer off course like all the previous belt-tightening policies of previous governments that have brought no joy to the country’s economic table.

If correctly handled, removing the scam called fuel subsidies, for instance, though unpopular, should free up billions of naira that can be redirected toward critical sectors like education, security, healthcare, and infrastructure. Similarly, the unification of the exchange rate ends decades of economic distortion, creating a level playing field for investors and improving Nigeria’s chances of attracting foreign investment.

I told those who cared to listen that Nigeria and Africa cannot make economic progress without painful economic measures that will curb citizens' appetite for easy living, especially those with a palate geared towards consuming foreign goodies.

Tinubu’s bold approach resonates with the histories of nations like Singapore, South Korea, and China, which transformed their economies by taking bold and often unpopular steps. What these countries did was stop listening to Western advisers, abandon the recommendations of Western economists, forget about Western preachments about democracy and human rights, blah, blah, blah, and firmly anchor their economies on their indigenous cultural parameters.

The leaders of these countries rightly deduced that just because ideas worked in London, New York, or Paris, they were not guaranteed to work in their countries.

As I have said several times in this column, any economic, social, or economic system not anchored in an indigenous cultural base is doomed to failure.

In the aftermath of the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest nations in the world. However, the country became a leading global economy through disciplined leadership and a focus on industrialization. In his important and highly recommended books, Korean economics professor Ha-Joon Chang recounted the pitiful situations his family and country went through when the military government decided to transform South Korea.

One good example is the decision by one of the South Korean dictators to reject the advice of the World Bank not to build his steel industry. The WB rejected the request for financial assistance to build the steel mills because the Koreans lacked the raw materials and expertise to run steel mills. But General Park knew his people and their “Koreans can do” mentality.

Today, South Korea leads the world in steel production and shipbuilding.

Professor Ha-Joon Chang devoted Chapter 11 of his book,” to Africa: Africa is not destined for underdevelopment. He wrote: “Africa has not always been stagnant. In the 1960s and 1970s, when all the supposed structural impediments to growth were present and often more binding, it actually posted a decent growth performance. Moreover, all the structural handicaps that are supposed to hold back Africa have been present in most of today’s rich countries – poor climate (artic and tropic), landlockedness, abundant natural resources, ethnic divisions, poor institutions and bad culture. These structural conditions seem to act as impediments to development in Africa only because its countries do not yet have the necessary technologies, institutions, and organizational skills to deal with their adverse consequences. The real cause of African stagnation in the last three decades is free-market policies that the continent has been compelled to implement during the period. Unlike history or geography, policies can be changed. Africa is not destined for underdevelopment.”

It was also this “Asian can do” mindset that informed Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed Singapore from a struggling post-colonial agrarian backward state to a global economic powerhouse. Lee’s policies, which included strict financial discipline, investment in education, zero tolerance for indiscipline and corruption, strict social conformity, and infrastructural development, were initially met with resistance but eventually paid off, creating one of the world’s most competitive economies.

We can also cite China's glorious example. This country was poorer than Nigeria about fifty years ago but has powered itself to the top of the economic, scientific, and technological ladder. History students will recall how Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms, which introduced market principles into China’s socialist framework, were initially criticized but ultimately led to unprecedented economic growth, lifting over half a billion people out of poverty.

We cite these examples to show that economic transformation requires bold leaders to make tough decisions, even at the risk of initial unpopularity. Tinubu’s controversial policies, if implemented with vigor and consistency, can potentially steer Nigeria toward a similar path of sustained growth.

Nigerians should ensure that the infamous “Nigerian Factor” is not allowed to steer him off course.

Without a doubt, some of the initiatives that Tinubu enunciated require applause, not condemnation. These are some of them that stand out for their potential to reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape:

1. Tax Reforms: The government has launched efforts to widen the tax base and improve compliance. These measures undoubtedly place an immediate burden on businesses and individuals, but they are essential for increasing government revenue and reducing dependence on oil and foreign loans. The Nigerians who vociferated loudly against this initiative did not say how they wanted the government to fund its operations, given the fact that they were also averse to the government borrowing money.

2. Tinubu prioritized infrastructure, which he recognized as crucial to driving economic growth. His administration’s focus on roads, power generation, and digital infrastructure signals a commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses. Rescue me if I am wrong, but this is what every advanced economy does.

The truth is that Nigerians have been eating their future, and it cannot continue forever. What is essential now is patience and collective responsibility to help the president on the course he has set for the country. What took China and South Korea about twenty years to achieve could be brought to bear in ten years because Nigeria has what those two countries lacked when they started: immense natural resources and a vast pool of educated, talented, creative citizens.

Blessedly, Nigerians also share the Asian Giants’ “Can do Spirit.”

Of course, we are not romantic about Nigerian prospects. Citizens can yawn and say: We have been there before when many presidents began with their own “gra gra” and disappointed their compatriots. As we have noted in many of our writings here, Africans' greatest asset is their innate optimism! Of course, as my brother Deji keeps reminding me, Hope is not a Strategy.

But without it, we are lost.

While Tinubu’s policies are promising, their success will depend on Nigerians' patience and support. Nigerians should stop dreaming that economic transformation will be immediate. No, it will not. No magic is involved; it requires years of consistent effort and sacrifices.

As Tinubu noted during his press engagement, “No nation has ever risen to greatness without enduring hardship. We are building the Nigeria of our dreams, and this is just the beginning.”

Nigerians must begin to embrace a culture of fiscal discipline (we can add social as well), learning to live within their means and prioritizing long-term benefits over short-term gratification. Nigerians must support Tinubu’s vision of a prosperous and self-reliant nation just as Singaporeans, South Koreans, and Chinese citizens rallied behind their leaders during challenging times.

Nigeria faces immense challenges; there is no doubt about that. As Marcus Garvey exhorted us: What Man has done, man can do. Nigerians must tell themselves that with bold leadership and their collective efforts, they can overcome them.

Nigerians should ensure that Tinubu's example becomes a permanent feature of their governing systems and that their presidents and governors follow it. Tinubu’s example should inspire his contemporaries and the next generation of Nigerian leaders, proving that transparency, courage, and vision are the cornerstones of effective governance.

President Tinubu’s unscripted media engagement is more than a public relations exercise; it is a statement of intent. It reflects a leader unafraid to confront hard truths, engage with his people, and chart a bold course for the nation. Tinubu’s actions are fresh air in a political culture rife with evasion and mediocrity.

That is why we write to salute him.

As Nigerians reflect on Tinubu’s performance and the journey ahead, they must remember that nation-building is a marathon, not a sprint. The path to prosperity is often strewn with challenges, but with determination and unity, the Nigeria of our dreams can be achieved.

Bravo, President Tinubu, for daring to lead by example.

©️ Fẹ̀mi Akọ̀mọ̀‌làfẹ̀

(Farmer, Writer, Published Author, Essayist, Satirist, and Social Commentator.)

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