As Nigeria’s President-Elect Bola Tinubu prepares to take over from President Buhari, there are huge concerns as to the direction the country is headed with the new administration. Top on this list of concerns are; the economy, security and the country’s unity. The major challenge for the incoming government is how to fix the nation’s nearly broken economy, broken security across regions and broken ties among Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities. Significantly, the 2023 general elections appear to have divided the country deeper along religious and ethnic lines. Now that governance beckons, what exactly do people expect from the incoming government? Generally, what Nigerians expect might not be far from the three most disturbing challenges earlier mentioned.
However, for the Southeast geo-political zone, considering the zone’s position in the just concluded election in which the zone went almost exclusively in one direction, what do the people of Southeast expect of Bola Tinubu’s presidency? Answer to this question by Southeasterners themselves, is crucial in understanding how the incoming government should deal with the Southeast. In this regard, many Southeasterners living in the Southeast have reacted to this poser. For Solomon a businessman and tech expert based in Anambra, Bola Tinubu’s government should be more forthright. “The government should be more sincere. For instance, look at subsidy. Nobody knows the truth about fuel subsidy. Whether they are removing it or not, the government must show commitment to the people.” Speaking on the government’s first term in office, according to Solomon, “it is possible that Tinubu would be distracted this first term because of court cases,” he however insists that the government must be committed to the people and at least fix electricity.
In the streets, petty business owners, skilled and unskilled labourers all expect the government of Bola Tinubu to carry the Southeast along and give the region its own fair share of his government’s projects. “Southeast just want to feel that they are part of Nigeria”, said a prominent Enugu based lawyer.
On his part, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu Jnr, has reacted, providing a detailed breakdown of what he believes the Southeast expects of the incoming government. According to Ojukwu, the incoming president should carry every Nigerian along. “He should be president for all including Igbos. Show everyone that he understands the difference between Igbos and ‘Obidients’. Create an enabling environment based on equity and capacity, for MSMEs, and big businesses to thrive across the country. Replicate the urban development successes of Lagos, in Nnewi, Onitsha and Aba,” Chief Ojukwu said. Other critical areas of concentration in the Southeast for the incoming president according to Emeka Ojukwu Jnr, should include; youth empowerment opportunities, review of the issue of state of origin, number of states in the Southeast as against other zones, revisit restructuring, explore potentials of seaport for the Southeast, and address power deficiency.
In a sense, except in a few specific areas, it might appear as though the expectations of Southeasterners are not much different from that of other Nigerians. For instance, the state of Nigeria’s economy, the cash crisis, insecurity, power, among others, very clearly are national problems not Southeast problem. However, it is equally unambiguous that the Southeast is eager to be accorded any special treatment in terms of government presence and project, as it is in other regions.
Uzuegbuna Okagbue has responded to these expressed concerns of Southeasterners as regards their place in the coming administration. For Okagbue a frontline Tinubu’s supporter from the Southeast, Tinubu has demonstrated convincingly his understanding of Nigeria while he was governor in Lagos. “Essentially, Southeast wants to have a stake and they want the government to work. Now, let me remind you that as governor of Lagos state, President-Elect Bola Tinubu congregated the finest Nigerians from all over the country. Igbos were part of his cabinet in Lagos. So, this is something he has done before. I can tell you today that he would congregate the finest of Nigerians from all over the country and the country will be moved forward. No region of this country would be left behind under Asiwaju’s presidency,” Uzuegbuna Okagbue said.
The inauguration of the 5th Nigeria’s president since the inception of this democracy is now barely a month away; but it does appear that expectations are high amid tough challenges. However, only a few months into Tinubu’s presidency is required to be able to say the direction the government is headed. For now, what is left is at best a cautious hope that what is coming might just be better than what the country has now.
Ebuka graduated with a second-class upper-division degree in Political Science from the University of Calabar in Nigeria. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master's Degree in Political Science with a specialization in Government and Development Studies from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Nigeria. His academic background and professional experience have equipped him with a deep understanding of political dynamics and governance issues.
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