WEEK BRIEF: New Service Chiefs, unified exchange rate, Tinubu’s steps to restore Nigerians’ hope

“Whether you are Batified, Atikulated, Obidient, Kwankwasiyya, or have any other political affiliation, you voted for a better, more hopeful nation and I thank you for your participation and dedication to our democracy,” President Bola Tinubu said this in his iaunugaral speech titled “THE ERA OF RENEWED HOPE“.

He continued, “You decided to place your trust in the democratic vision of a Nigeria founded on shared prosperity and one nurtured by the ideals of unity, justice, peace and tolerance. Renewed hope has dawned in Nigeria.”

A lot has happened in Nigeria in the last one week. Things are taking place at an accelerated speed. The suspension of some powerful ‘bigwigs’ including the Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor, Godwin Emefiele and the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa has triggered jubilation across the country.

The story of the suspension of Emefiele by President Tinubu broke the internet followed by Bawa’s indefinite suspension allowing proper investigation into the allegations against them while in office.

Subsequently, the duo have been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for questioning. Tinubu’s suspension of the anti-graft agency boss follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.

Emefiele is being probed over some alleged terrorism financing among others. President Tinubu during an interactive session with Nigerians residing in France and neighbouring countries on Friday, President Tinubu said the financial system was rotten under Emefiele.

He said, “Then the financial system was rotten. Few people made bags of money and then you yourself, you stopped sending money home to our poor parents. Several windows. But that is gone now. It’s gone.

“The man is in the hands of the authorities. Something is being done about that. They will sort themselves out.”

On Monday night, Tinubu approved the immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, and Comptroller-General of Customs from Service as well as their replacements with immediate effect.

The President, however, approved the appointment of the Officers; Mallam Nuhu Ribadu – National Security Adviser; Major General Christopher Musa – Chief of Defence Staff; Major General Abiodun Lagbaja – Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla – Chief of Naval Staff; Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff; DIG Kayode Egbetokun – Acting Inspector-General of Police; and Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye – Chief of Defense Intelligence.

Tinubu, on the same day, the immediate dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies in the exercise of their Constitutional Powers and the Public interest.

All these have generated reactions from Nigerian which many have described as a good sign of hope for the country under this current administration.

Former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani says the excitement accompanying some decisions of the current administration is understandable due to alleged indecisiveness of the immediate past government.

Shehu Sani in a tweet on Thursday, said the country is now witnessing a “gradual dismantling of the defective pillars upon which the former president rested”.

He wrote, “The excitement is understandable. The nation journeyed through eight years of a boring, indecisive, weak, visionless and outsourced leadership, held captive by a gang.

“The nation waited for long, even for a modest action that never happened. We are now apparently witnessing a gradual dismantling of the defective pillars upon which the former president rested and wasted his opportunity and powers, and the time of the country”.

In a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Omokri pointed out that President Tinubu has in one week exhibited the ability of his administration to tackle key issues in the country by taking some tough decisions.

The socio-political activist and staunch supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubakar cited the removal of fuel subsidy, the quelling of nationwide strike planned by the Nigeria Labour Congress as some of the achievements.

In a different comment, Omokri said Tinubu’s recent actions are turning him into one of the most progressive presidents in Nigeria’s history.

Omokri tweeted: “President Bola Tinubu entered office as one of the least popular, supposedly elected leaders in Nigeria’s history. In two weeks, he is turning out to be one of the most progressive Presidents in our recent history, simply by his actions after his swearing-in.

“Nigerians are not hard to please. Apart from those using politics to hide their secessionist agenda, most Nigerians seem to be happy with his performance thus far. And his popularity is high right now.

“Except you are not being honest with yourself. If he continues this way, even the secessionist agenda will be defeated by good governance in a way that it could not be militarily vanquished by General Buhari.”