09/01/2025
*Speaking Truth to Power: The Importance of Constructive Criticism in Nigeria's Democratic Journey*
I have watched a couple of videos produced by individuals who are experiencing the same economic hardships that we are experiencing in Nigeria. Some are constructive but others have not been constructive at all.
No doubt, Most repair interventions come with some pain.
I recall that when I went for surgery after my cancer diagnosis, which was detected early, I prepared for my travel, walked into the airplane by myself, walked into the hospital myself. I had stamina. I was fit and strong but for the disease that was growing quietly inside of me.
After the surgery, I was taken out of the hospital on a wheelchair, taken into the airplane and back home in a wheel chair. For weeks, I had to be assisted to sit up in bed.
It was a big difference from where I was before I commenced treatment.
One day, one of my older cousins came to visit me. As I was being helped to sit up, I started crying. The response my cousin gave me is what I desire to reference here.
"Don't cry, aunty Doro. This is what repair job is like. It takes you down before it builds you up." This is so true. Repair jobs often require taking things apart before rebuilding them.
Later, my physio therapist used to tell me, "No pain, no gain."
Repairing the Nigeria that President Tinubu took an oath to serve, is not an exception to this rule.
When we campaigned as Presidential aspirants and candidates, we all were in agreement that Nigeria had been through gross abuse that had brought down our economy and put us through a lot of hardship.
As aspirants and candidates, we developed manifestos that articulated these issues, planned and proposed solutions.
Sadly, manifestos cannot carry full details of strategic implementation plans due to fear that another aspirant or candidate might plagiarise the content.
We saw this during the "no tax on tips" campaigning.
However, since Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the elections, he has elaborated on his policies and most often, subjected the strategic implementation plan to debates.
The open market economy, the deregulation of electricity production and marketing, the University loans for indigent students, the mitigation of the impact of fuel subsidy removal, the Local Government autonomy, appointments and evaluation of cabinet officials, the tax reform bill, are a few examples of issues that have been debated in town halls and in the media.
We have witnessed instances where the President has retraced his steps, reversed his decisions, retracted an action, in response to sensible feedback.
The President has shown that he listens. It is left for us to speak out, air our views on issues that matter to us.
However, in so-doing, we must be well informed, be knowledgeable and have our facts right. And our concerns must be framed in a constructive manner.
