Fanfare or no fanfare, watch out for actions this week, notwithstanding” was the closing line for the piece last week. The week did not betray as had been projected, it was another week of very choked activities for President Tinubu. It was the week of May 29, his anniversary in office and expectedly, ministers were competing to have him commission some of their completed projects that were achieved within his first year of office. So it was from one event to the other, commissioning projects, the fruits of his one year labour. It was hectic, no doubt, but I guess it was a positively ‘hectic’ for him. Having to cut tapes here and there for projects the grace of God has helped him to achieve for the people he lives to serve at the moment.
The commissioning spree started from the first day of the week, being Sunday, when the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, took him back to Lagos, his own home, to perform the first set of tasks. He was initially scheduled to inaugurate the newly reconstructed Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota-Oshodi Expressway, a 36.02km road connecting Nigeria’s premier ports – Apapa and Tin Can Island – to larger parts of Lagos State, as well as virtually inaugurate the recently rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge. He was however represented at the task by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The funding of the Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota-Oshodi Expressway was undertaken by the Dangote Industries Limited, under the tax credit method of infrastructure funding, with Hitech Construction Nigeria Limited as the subcontractor. The road is expected to enhance access to the ports, boost commercial activities, and spur economic development.
Much later he led dignitaries from Lagos and from across Nigeria to the Ahmadu Bello Way end of Victoria Island for the flag-off of the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a project already described as ‘legacy’ because of its huge economic, social and strategic importance. It will be safe to say of all the several projects commissioned during the week, either personally or by proxy, it was the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway that touched his emotions most.
First, this was the project that has mostly come under attack from opposition politicians, some of whom had alleged base reasons. For example, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who contested the Presidency with him last year, has attacked the project, the President and his intents on the project more than once. He once alleged that the project is being rushed, just as he has alleged that it is meant to serve the President’s personal interest.
However, at the flag-off ceremony, the visibly excited Tinubu declared it his bragging day, apparently giving it back to those who had failed to see the potentials of the project, not just for the people of the nine litoral states the project will cross through, but for the entire Nigerian State, and had weaponised it for political reasons. He went on to point out its benefits
“I said earlier that it’s my bragging day, we said we will do this road, we’re determined to do it. The way we’re going, we’ll have a road that will outlive all of us here present. That is how to build the future. The project is more than just a mere road, it is a symbol of hope, unity and prosperity. I’ll go on the next ten benefits of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. During the period of construction, the road will provide direct employment to thousands of people and indirect employment to ten of thousands of artisans and more.
“Economic opportunities for millions are being opened, it will fast-track community development, it will bring development closer to the people and give 30 million people improved access to production and marketing centres. The potential of the road is enormous. The spur to Sokoto is undergoing procurement, let us sped up the financial details being worked out. Don’t be afraid, we will do this road, it will be a success for Nigeria and we will do more. I am a very happy man today. Share with me in the joy today”, the President said.
The colourful coastal highway, which was graced by the crème of Lagos corporate and political class, as well as the federal might of Abuja, was combined with the virtual flag-off of the nationwide reconstruction and rehabilitation of emergency interventions on 330 roads and bridges across the six geo-political zones of the nation.
President Tinubu returned to Abuja on Tuesday, resuming another round of very hectic outings. From Tuesday, the man he dubbed the ‘Landlord of Abuja’, that is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, hijacked him for the commissioning of his many projects. First was the Southern Parkway project, which serves as a critical artery connecting major areas within the city and which has been named after him (Bola Tinubu Way).
Wike continued with his heist on Wednesday; he got the President to flag off the commercial operation of the FCT Light Rail System also known as the Abuja Metroline, a project. That occasion was another opportunity for Tinubu to show that populist in him. He got the FCT administration to give free rides to Abuja commuters on the Metroline till the end of the year.
Before he went for Wike’s show, he was earlier at the National Assembly Complex where he commissioned a library. Before the library commissioning he spoke to the Joint Session of the National Assembly, calling for stronger collaboration and strengthening of the nation’s bonds of unity, its diversities rather being binders than divisive tools. Earlier that morning, he had already signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law. That law reinstates the former anthem known as ‘Nigeria We Hail thee’.
On Thursday, the third consecutive day, Wike had the President again, this time around to commission an engineering infrastructure (over-head bridge) linking Wuse to Wuye.
The next event after returning from the Wuse-Wuye Bridge commission was also critical for many reasons, but what we might have the space to treat here is one of the pungent points he made during the event. He received leadership and members of the very critical Arewa Consultative Forum (AFC) and seized the opportunity to ring the bell in favour of the local council administration. It was important for him to throw an appeal to the socio-cultural body because of the legal matter between the federal and state governments, to determine the autonomy of that third tier of governance. He needed the voices of those revered across lines, those who can also collectively determine the fate of any politician, whatever position he might occupy.
“We are running a constitutional democracy. I will appeal to you to summon the governors. I am doing my very best to enhance the revenue base of the country. They must equally be sympathetic, and they must urgently consider the needs of the local people. People reside in the local communities. That is where they work, farm, and live, if the local governments are not effective in delivering services; as leaders, we must not hang on to the numbers. We have 774 local government areas, but are they truly effective? Do they solve problems for Nigerians? Do they coordinate development programming with the state and federal governments? Who is being held accountable for the performance of the 774 local governments? Maybe we should look at recalibrating. What was good four years ago may not be good today. When we want the votes, we go to the locals; when we get the votes, we move to and focus on Abuja”, was his appeal.
There were other events, but like indicated earlier, only what could be accommodated will be contained. It was indeed a loaded week and deservedly so.
By the way, some people have expressed their surprise at the choice of the President of the Senate, Akpabio, representing Tinubu at the commissioning of a project executed by the Executive, wondering what happened to the Principle of Separation of Powers. Although the concerns were not entirely misplaced because those expressing it are not foreigners and it is assumed they are informed enough to know there should be a dividing line between the domains of the Executive and that of the Legislature. What these concerned citizens might not have taken into considering is the fact that the anniversary warranting the commissioning is not peculiar to the Executive, which the President presides over, it was also their anniversary at the National Assembly, the Legislature, which the President of the Senate presides over.
In fact, Akpabio is a first-timer President of the Senate, except anyone knows when he once led the Upper Chambers before the inauguration of the 10th Senate. Like Akpabio being a first-timer President of the Senate, there are tens of newcomers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, who are also celebrating their first year at their new political station.
But even much more than it being their mutual anniversary, President Tinubu, who has consistently acknowledged the support of the National Assembly for his administration, considering the level of access he has enjoyed, has attributed whatever amount of success he has had to the legislators’ cooperation, hence making his success theirs as well. So in that philosophy, Akpabio commissioning projects executed by Tinubu’s administration is not just a positive sign, it is also an indication that none of the arms wants to obliterate the other.
There are still many more projects lined out by ministers and heads of agencies, even state governors who want to identify with the President. We can only wait to see what the coming week will look like.
