A campaign called "Tinubu Must Go" has gained momentum in Nigeria, primarily through social media platforms. This movement, driven by widespread economic hardship, calls for President Bola Tinubu's removal from office by 2027. The campaign's emergence raises questions about the regional mobilisation and differing reactions to economic difficulties under various administrations. Hussaini Ibrahim, a media practitioner, argues that an honest conversation is needed about the motivations behind this campaign and its implications for Nigeria's political landscape.
During President Muhammadu Buhari's eight-year tenure, Nigeria faced significant economic challenges, including the 2019 land-border restrictions, naira redesign, and cash restrictions. These policies, aimed at curbing smuggling and encouraging domestic production, had adverse effects on legitimate trade and citizens' access to cash. Despite substantial government spending and appointments of northerners to key positions, security challenges persisted in the North, and millions of Nigerians continued to experience poverty and unemployment. However, no large-scale campaign like "Tinubu Must Go" emerged during Buhari's presidency.
President Tinubu inherited an economy with significant structural deficiencies, including fuel-subsidy costs, multiple exchange-rate windows, weak government revenues, and high debt obligations. Upon taking office, he implemented reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy, exchange-rate reforms, and tax changes. These decisions aimed to restructure public finances and increase government revenue but led to immediate consequences, such as rising fuel prices, transportation costs, and food prices. Inflation and decreased purchasing power have understandably angered many Nigerians.
The Tinubu administration has argued that its reforms are necessary to correct long-standing structural weaknesses. The removal of the subsidy has freed resources for infrastructure, social programmes, and other public expenditure areas. Over one million students have benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, and major infrastructure projects have continued across the country. Reforms in the electricity sector have given states greater authority in electricity generation and distribution. The administration has also pursued compressed natural gas conversion in response to rising petrol and transportation costs.
Despite the administration's efforts, the existence of hardship does not automatically justify the "Tinubu Must Go" campaign. The real debate should focus on the alternative policies and their feasibility. If the criticism is that subsidy removal was too painful, what is the financially sustainable alternative? If exchange-rate reforms are being rejected, what alternative system should replace the previous multiple-rate regime? These questions should dominate the national conversation and guide the evaluation of the administration's policies.
A concerning trend in Nigeria's political culture is the interpretation of economic difficulties based on the president's region. Hardship under a northern president was endured patiently, while hardship under a southern president is seen as evidence that the political arrangement has become unacceptable. This standard could be dangerous for a diverse country like Nigeria. Representation cannot replace good governance, and Tinubu's appointments of northerners do not solely determine his administration's success.
The debate over 2027 should move beyond the "Tinubu Must Go" slogan and focus on viable alternatives and policy evaluations. Nigeria needs continuity in areas where reforms are addressing long-standing structural problems and demands adjustments where policies unnecessarily hurt citizens. A government should be capable of correcting its mistakes without abandoning every reform that becomes politically difficult. The country's diverse population deserves a thoughtful and informed discussion about its future.
Key points
- The "Tinubu Must Go" campaign has emerged as a response to economic hardship in Nigeria, differing from reactions during former President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure.
- President Tinubu's administration has implemented reforms aimed at correcting structural weaknesses, but the existence of hardship does not automatically justify the campaign for his removal.
- The debate over 2027 should focus on viable alternatives and policy evaluations rather than simplistic slogans.
