I did not vote for President Tinubu or any other candidate, for that matter, in 2023. I had moved residences and, for whatever reason, couldn’t get INEC to get my name transferred from the voters’ register of my former residence to the new address. This fact saved me the dilemma of choosing between Asiwaju, whom I liked, and Obi, who, based on his ethnicity, I thought ought to have been given a chance. There was no way in the world that I imagined considering Atiku.
Fast forward to the post-inauguration of Asiwaju as president, I observed that he had to make difficult choices that required courage. He took those decisions, and naturally, Nigerians had and perhaps still have a hard time contending with them. I nursed a grudge against Asiwaju for not appearing to be empathetic to the hardships his tough, albeit necessary, decisions brought on Nigerians. The fact that a new presidential jet and yacht were ordered at the time riled me to no end.
I have since come to terms with it, and I now choose to put my abiding desire that Nigeria prospers and thrives ahead of my irritation for the occasional presidential faux pas. Whether or not I like it, Bola Tinubu is the president of my country and will remain so for at least 2 more years. I have therefore decided to wish him well as he carries out his duties as president. I realise that not wishing him well equates with not wishing Nigeria well. So, going forward, I will suspend my angst whenever it rears its head and think of ways to cooperate with the government within reasonable limits to ensure that Nigeria moves forward.
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This doesn’t mean I won’t be critical. On the contrary, I shall be eagle-eyed focused on what the government is doing, and will constructively voice my concerns, devoid of personal animosity. Nigeria is too precious for me to allow my animosity towards any person to make me work against Nigeria’s interest. Truth be told, I don’t dislike President Tinubu, which is why I am appealing to those who do to put the interest of Nigeria first in the way they express their dislike for him if they must express it at all.
