Rita Odafe
Fayemi’s Insights on President Tinubu’s Leadership
Kayode Fayemi, the former governor of Ekiti state, expressed his views on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic strategies, acknowledging his good intentions but emphasizing that goodwill is insufficient for effective leadership.
During an interview with Channels TV on February 6, Fayemi, who considers Tinubu as an elder brother, remarked: “He (Tinubu) is well-meaning, but well-meaning is not enough in leadership; intentionality is critical to success.”
Fayemi, a prominent figure in the ruling party and an ally of the president, pointed out that those in power are aware of the challenges but often fail to act upon them due to various complicating factors.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has undertaken several commendable actions. He has bravely made tough decisions that his predecessors avoided,” Fayemi noted, acknowledging the consequences of these choices, which have led to a significant cost-of-living crisis, such as the removal of the fuel subsidy and currency exchange reforms.
He mentioned other initiatives like student loans and measures against insurgency and insecurity, indicating that while progress exists, a cohesive policy approach alongside strong leadership is necessary to improve the situation.
Fayemi stressed the need for the country’s leaders to take responsibility, stating they must apologize to Nigerians for not fulfilling their commitments.
“We need to apologize to the Nigerian people. We haven’t achieved everything we promised, not merely due to incompetence but also because of structural challenges,” he admitted. He acknowledged that the government hasn’t done enough to enhance living conditions for Nigerians and emphasized the importance of collective action among leaders to address these issues, warning of the risks associated with inaction.
