EDITORIAL: TOO EARLY TO PREDICT

n assumption of office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has far taken some bold steps to clean the Aegean stable. Such moves have received an all-round ovation even within perceived enemy quarters.

                        "…it would have been foolhardy for anyone to reason that Nigerians would clap for Mr President for daring to massage their ego with the fragile issue of petroleum products subsidy removal…"

First, was the removal of oil subsidy followed by appointments of key principal officers and handling of election National Assembly leadership.

In a swift move aimed at sanitising the financial sector, he clamped down on the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, and his colleague on the EFCC axis and then the dissolution of all boards and agencies that don't statutory tenureship.

Of course, it would have been foolhardy for anyone to reason that Nigerians would clap for Mr President for daring to massage their ego with the fragile issue of petroleum products subsidy removal irrespective of the long run expected benefits.

Echoes from all quarters tend to applaud Mr President for taking decisive steps over matters that concern governance. Some have even gone to the extent of labelling him a copycat for implementing policies similar but not limited to what his opponents had promised they would do during the build up to the presidential elections.

If there is anything President Tinubu has done that has endeared him to Nigerians to the extent that everyone seems to be eager to hear his next move is the suspension and subsequent arrest of Mr Godwin Emefiele, who presided over the Central Bank of Nigeria as if it was his personal business venture which he could take decisions like our currency note the Naira redesign without minding the negative effect that trailed such inhuman policy.

The suspension and subsequent detention for questioning of Emefiele’s accomplice the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, Bawa, did not attract public applause like that of the suspended CBN governor, neither did the EFCC's invitation extended to no less than eight former ministers of the immediate past administration.

It appears Nigerians are enlivened each time there is a smell of bad news in the air especially when the negative information has something to do with a highly placed government functionary.

But beneath the scene and within the civil service more damning and rotten smelling malfeasance pollute the air.

"…the hilarious applause that welcomed the presidential directive was so heart-warming that whatever is transpiring at the petition election tribunal seems to be no longer of consequence to Nigerians"

If the fate of these traducers is to act as deterrent to incoming government appointees, then those down the line of duty who aided such gamut of economic crime should alongside their masters be made to taste a pie of their administrative indulgence.

Already, Seme border is open for business on the orders of Mr President and the hilarious applause that welcomed the presidential directive was so heart-warming that whatever is transpiring at the petition election tribunal seems to be no longer of consequence to Nigerians.

This paper, however, give kudos to the new administration by trying to chat a part of economic recovery and national rebirth through its policy statements and actions taken so far.

But this paper is of the opinion that the Presidency should go the whole hog to tackle the hydra-headed issues of corruption plaguing all sectors of the economy. Let the corruption fight, so far embarked upon by the present administration, not end up being a media trail to woo public sympathy. The Anti-graft agencies should expand their dragnet to all areas where they are suspected malfeasance and bring culprits to book to send a warning signal to those coming in to public service under this administration.

This paper, therefore, implores President Tinubu to appoint Nigerians with vision, integrity, capacity and love of the nation to assist him to implement and drive the policies and programmes of the administration to the benefit of Nigerians who are yearning for the desired change