Chief Asiwaju versus The Federal Establishment.

Nigeria’s political and institutional systems are undergoing much-needed disruption. For decades, weak oversight and entrenched impunity allowed public officials to mismanage, embezzle, and siphon off public funds with little consequence. One glaring example is the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), where a former governor allegedly oversaw the misappropriation of vast sums, including funds used to build over 753 duplexes, without being caught.

Such a system is clearly broken and must be dismantled. The culture within our Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that enabled this kind of abuse is what the current administration is now confronting. These reforms have ruffled feathers, particularly among those who once benefited from federal largesse, like Nasir El-Rufai, who has benefited massively from the system. It's worth recalling that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as CBN Governor, unilaterally awarded multi-billion-naira contracts to El-Rufai upon his return from exile after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

This is the context in which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda must be viewed. It may not resemble the restructuring some anticipated, but what is unfolding is a serious institutional overhaul. Corruption cartels in agencies like the Nigerian Ports Authority, NNPC, Customs, Pension Funds, Defence Budget, and the CBN are being dismantled. Oversight is being restored. These are not cosmetic changes—they are foundational.

I urge Nigerians, especially my friends, course-mates, and loved ones, to give the President a fair chance. If he can sustain this momentum, if he can pressure the military to intensify the fight against terrorism, and — most importantly — if he can maintain strict neutrality and ensure his name is NEVER associated with any attempt to influence judicial outcomes, he will be remembered not just as a reformer, but as a statesman.

There are no second chances to rewrite a faded legacy. Imagine if General Ibrahim Babangida had allowed Chief M.K.O. Abiola to assume power after the 1993 elections. He would have been globally celebrated. Instead, by going against the will of the people, his legacy remains tainted, and his achievements largely forgotten.

President Tinubu must take heed: Let your performance speak for you in 2027, not the party label of any imposed candidate. For instance, the ongoing infrastructure renewal connecting Edo State to other parts of the country is a legacy worth running on. However, imposing an unpopular governorship candidate perceived as a proxy could trigger a protest vote that undermines your efforts.

Stay the course. Focus on reform and performance. If you do that, public trust and history will write your name in gold beyond 2027.

Lagos, Nigeria. 

June O2, 2025