Tinubu describes Nigeria's misgovernance as leadership elephantiasis to visiting US delegation

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has described Nigeria's misgovernance problems as leadership elephantiasis telling a United States congressional delegation that his government is hell-bent on reversing decades of economic mismanagement.

Speaking when he received a delegation from the US Congress led by Senator Cory Booker at State House in Abuja, President Tinubu said that while democracy must be defended, it must translate into tangibles of quality healthcare, good education, food security, shelter, and overall economic prosperity for the people of Nigeria. He added that his administration is committed to deepening democracy by ensuring adherence to the rule of law and expediting the sustainable provision of good governance, justice and fairness to all Nigerian citizens.

According to President Tinubu, Nigeria is a necessary partner for the sustenance of democracy in Africa and beyond. He noted that as the continent’s biggest economy and largest democracy, Nigeria is well-positioned to set the best continental example by delivering good governance to its people.

President Tinubu said: “Nigeria, as the giant of Africa, suffered leadership elephantiasis years back and I am determined to change that. Adhering to the principles of democracy and the rule of law is very important to us. I wonder how democracy will survive if we do not fight for it.

"I fought for this democracy. I risked my life for it. Military truncation of democracy is unacceptable. The power of our citizens is and must remain supreme.”

Emphasizing the need for the US to evolve a more prudent and pragmatic partnership with Africa, President Tinubu said Washington should consider upscaling critical development programmes to strengthen ties with the continent. He added: “It is important for our partners to help strengthen democracy in Africa.

"Our developmental programmes need serious capital, we are not asking for freebies but all we are asking for is understanding. After the Second World War, Europe was impacted but America developed and executed the Marshall Plan to pull them back up. Today, Europe is standing firm and tall as a result. What about a Marshall plan for Africa?

“How can we be categorized and thrown into the International Monetary Fund's basket of trickle-down slices? We are blessed in Africa but these are the same resources causing conflicts because of exploitation and a lack of alignment. The presence of the resources does not reflect in the living conditions of the people."

“America needs to look at the situation in Africa critically. What is happening in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger emanates from a helpless feeling people have that they are not being helped economically. They find that their former colonial masters are not letting go and are still seeking to exploit them."

Senator Booker described President Tinubu as a visionary who took tough but necessary decisions for the good of Nigerians. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs added that the broad consensus in the US House of Representatives and in the White House is to not place Nigeria back on the list of countries of concern over allegations of religious intolerance.