Buba Galadima, the Chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), believes that one month is insufficient to evaluate President Bola Tinubu’s performance. While acknowledging that Tinubu has made a promising start compared to his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, Galadima expresses concerns about the utilization of funds obtained from the removal of fuel subsidies and its impact on the masses.
Galadima acknowledges that Tinubu has taken measures to secure himself within and around the presidential villa by appointing commanders and sub-commanders for his security. Additionally, he has replaced service chiefs, including the Inspector General of Police, who are now in the process of appointing unit commanders to combat criminal elements such as Boko Haram and kidnappers.
The economic front has also seen some positive moves, with Tinubu attempting to align the parallel market and official exchange rates with the dollar, despite its current volatility. Galadima suggests that investigating the root causes of fuel subsidies is crucial to avoid similar pitfalls in the future. He also highlights the need to recover looted funds from individuals implicated in corruption, as some individuals possess wealth exceeding that of entire states or the country itself.
Galadima mentions the inauguration of the National Assembly, the election of key leadership positions, and the ongoing process of appointing committees. The appointment of ministers is the next step in ensuring the smooth functioning of the government. Galadima urges patience, drawing a parallel to his own approach during the Buhari era, where he waited for two years before making an assessment.
He highlights the distinction between Tinubu’s administration, which involves extensive consultation with stakeholders across different political parties, and the military regime. Galadima concludes that if Tinubu continues with this approach while dealing with the challenges inherited from a distorted economy, his government will achieve significant success.