r/Nigeria • u/Accomplished_Pea2560 • 11h ago
Politics "Why are we blaming Tinubu all the time for everything? Nigerian society is the problem".
I keep on hearing a variation of this talking point on this forum and on others all the time, that nigerian people and their attitude needs to change before we point a finger at our president or our leaders.
I think two things can be true. The people can change their character, but competent leaders can also socially engineer a better society. For example that "rape festival" doesnt happen if significant pressure and resources from the president are put on the police chief and his men, and consequences of inaction or ineptitude fall on their heads as well as the criminals.
Thats the problem we are facing, there is no pressure or accountibility on authorities by the president or the people to work, and because they have bank accounts, family members or investments abroad, they have no pressure or need to serve you. Our president can mess up our economy currently, because he has no one to hold him by the neck, and he knows he has bank accounts, his family and residences in the UK to run to if he gets exiled.
We have already seen how in three and a half years, he did little to nothing, but suddenly because an election is coming up, we have a working government again. If we need Nigeria to work in its current state, we need leverage against these "public servants".
Dangle the sword above the king and his officials heads, and see how fast they govern the kingdom efficiently, and how fast the people magically fall in line.
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u/Entire-Accountant207 10h ago
I have a few thoughts on this: [ ] People that make this statement don't understand that ultimately behavior is a result of two things our environment or genetics. By fundamentally excusing the actions of the government you are basically saying its genetics or it is fundamental to some flawed in the Nigerian person.
[ ] Second, its reminds me of the antiwoke, anti feminism YouTube. In that it's primarily driven by outrage and outrage politics. So their angry about the country (rightfully so) then come online find more things to be angry about and it almost gives a catharsis to their feelings.
[ ] Third the institutions that should hold them to account are also controlled by them, or their friends and or business partners.
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u/New-Star-7049 10h ago
We have already seen how in three and half years he did little to nothing - in YOUR own judgement. Please speak for yourself.
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u/Accomplished_Pea2560 2h ago
Considering what he promised before, during and at the tail end of his presidency, can we say he did even half of what he promised? Maybe because i am taking the whole nation into consideration, but personally, he hasnt changed my life in any way.
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u/Ayemileto 41m ago
He didn't promise to change your life.
Go and read his manifesto. What he promised to do, is to address the fundamental issues affecting our country, and he has done just that.
He promised to remove subsidy and unify the exchange rate, and he has done both.
He promised to transform our economy from a cash based economy to a credit-based economy, and he's doing just that with the Loan Guarantee company, the consumer credit scheme, funding of the Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry etc.
He promised student loans, and he has done that with NELFUND.
He promised strengthen the banking sector (because banks are important to financing of our growth through loans), and he has done that with the Banking sector recapitalisation.
... and a whole lot of other things.
Changing your life isn't one of his promises.
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u/Cyclone050 6h ago
You will find that accountability isn’t easy to impose on a repressive society. A culture of suppressing dissent, state intimidation, abuse of power tends to keep people subdued. You can then add a culture of forced compliance (respect) and sycophancy to that already depressing mix.
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u/Accomplished_Pea2560 2h ago
I hear you, and what you said isnt wrong either, rather a very good point, but the thing is who will rescue the repressed from the oppressor? It has to be the people.
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u/Cyclone050 53m ago
Ideally we need to do what was done to end colonial rule. A group of committed people need to come together and mobilise the populace. Unfortunately unlike then the enemy isn’t quite so obvious and we are almost irreversibly divided and fragmented. That’s why in a country where there are high levels of poverty and deprivation some people can become billionaires on the back of national resources.
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u/Ayemileto 55m ago
While you're right in that leaders can shape how the country turns out, by ensuring there are consequences for actions, everything doesn't stop on the table of the president.
Take the example you used, why do you think Tinubu should be the one to be Held responsible for a "rape festival" happening in your village in Delta? What exactly is the Job of your LGA Chairman and Governor?
If your state house of reps make a law to ban the festival, and prescribe 20years imprisonment as punishment, and your governor assents to the bill, won't it stop the festival permanently?
Between your state making a law to ban it, and Tinubu ordering the police to arrest people every year till his tenure runs out, which do you think is more effective long term?
Do you think the police will be able to prosecute the people arrested on Tinubu's order, if your state doesn't have a law criminalising the festival? When the court frees them because your state doesn't have a criminal law to hold them against, y'all will come back and say the judiciary is corrupt.
In as much as it is necessary to hold leaders responsible, you need to hold the right leaders responsibile, not just the president in all scenarios, and that is where many of you are getting it wrong.
A rape festival in your village doesn't deserve the attention of the President when you have Ward councilors, LGA chairman, representatives at the SHOA, Governor, Representative at the HOR and HOA etc.
Everything doesn't rest on the president!!!
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u/oizao 3h ago
I don't even bother with people who say that, they've never taken a systems design class or a leadership class, or they just arent observant.
Fashola was governor of Lagos and Lagos changed drastically within 2 years, and he won second term easily because everyone loved the change he was making - they knew he meant business and they stood by him. Then Lagos has had two terrible governors after Fashola and the difference is like night and day.
Let people keep expecting collective good or collective change when the head is rotten.