Buckle up, Nigeria. The wind of change is blowing via the corridors of energy in Abuja, and it’s carrying whispers of an imminent cupboard reshuffle.
President Bola Tinubu, 15 months into his tenure, is reportedly able to play musical chairs along with his ministers. The affirmation got here straight from the horse’s mouth – or at the least, from the mouth of Bayo Onanuga, the president’s particular adviser on data and technique.
Onanuga, in true Nigerian political vogue, left us with extra questions than solutions. Will it occur earlier than October 1? Your guess is pretty much as good as mine, people.
President Tinubu’s 48-minister cupboard is the best we now have had since 1999. But those which can be working and visual are lower than 10.
‘Anticipate Tinubu’s Cupboard Reshuffle Quickly’
However right here’s the million-naira query: Will this reshuffle truly change something? Or is it simply rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic of Nigerian governance?
Let’s face it, we’ve seen this film earlier than. A brand new administration is available in, filled with guarantees and bravado. Just a few months down the road, when the honeymoon section wears off and the cruel realities of governing Nigeria set in, we get a cupboard reshuffle. It’s like altering the gamers mid-game and anticipating a unique rating.
Tinubu’s senior particular assistant on digital and new media, O’tega Ogra, claims the choice relies on “empirical proof.”
However wait, there’s extra! Apparently, Tinubu isn’t simply reshuffling his cupboard; he’s additionally giving them a crash course in PR 101. The president has instructed his ministers to “go on the market and publicise the administration’s successes.” As a result of nothing says “good governance” like ministers moonlighting as their very own hype males, proper?
Onanuga tells us that “many Nigerians consider the president isn’t doing a lot.”
However worry not, expensive residents! Our ministers are about to remodel into strolling, speaking billboards for Tinubu’s achievements. Neglect about truly fixing issues – the actual subject, apparently, is that they haven’t been bragging sufficient about their successes
The irony is palpable. We’ve got ministers who’re “hesitant to talk publicly” about their achievements, but they’re being pushed to grow to be cheerleaders for the administration. It’s like asking a mute individual to sing karaoke – entertaining, maybe, however in the end futile.
So, what can we count on from this impending reshuffle? Will we see contemporary faces with progressive concepts, able to sort out Nigeria’s myriad of challenges? Or will it’s the identical previous recycled politicians, taking part in musical chairs whereas the nation watches in bemused frustration?
My prediction? We’ll see a mixture of each. Just a few sacrificial lambs shall be led to the slaughter, their political careers supplied up on the altar of “change.” A handful of recent faces shall be introduced in, their appointments heralded because the daybreak of a brand new period. And the political merry-go-round will proceed to spin.
Reshuffling the cupboard with out addressing the basic points plaguing our nation is like altering your outfit to remedy a fever. It’d make you look completely different, however you’re nonetheless sick.
What Nigeria wants isn’t simply new faces in previous positions. We want an entire overhaul of our governance construction. We want leaders in any respect ranges who perceive that their job isn’t to build up wealth or energy, however to serve the individuals. We want ministers who don’t should be instructed to publicise their achievements as a result of their work speaks for itself.
For sure, Nigerians need actual change, tangible progress and leaders in any respect ranges who put the nation’s pursuits above their very own.
As for the remainder of us, let’s not maintain our breath ready for this reshuffle to miraculously resolve all our issues. As an alternative, let’s proceed to carry our leaders accountable, demand transparency, and work in the direction of constructing the Nigeria we deserve.
Within the grand scheme of issues, this cupboard reshuffle may simply be one other act within the long-running tragicomedy of Nigerian politics. However who is aware of? Possibly, simply perhaps, it’ll be the plot twist we’ve been ready for. Both means, cross the popcorn. This present is way from over.
