In the sphere of presidential engagement and communication,
Nigeria has had different shades of Presidents, from the docile and
absent, laidback, garrison-style communication, taciturn, to the
pragmatic. Each shade created the mood and tone of the
presidency and invariably impacted the quality of leadership the
presidency exhibited. Although not ascribing to or recommending
any shade of communication and engagement for the presidency, I
understand the importance of effective communication and
engagement of the President to all citizens and stakeholders of
Project Nigeria.
In a republican democracy, the primary assumption is that the
President is, first and foremost, a fellow citizen. Therefore,
consistent engagement with citizens, interest groups and special
interests is axiomatic. The challenge is that we are yet to accept
that ability to engage effectively with our constituents is a critical
function of leadership. Our Leaders are used to giving orders only
and not listening to the people or explaining why they must make
some decisions. The implication is that we have had rulers and not
necessarily leaders.
Arguably, the most critical skill needed by a leader is his ability to
communicate effectively with citizens, sectoral groups and
structured interest groups to pursue a specific agenda. In a short
period, we have witnessed significant changes in presidential
engagement. And this is bearing fruit in citizens’ responses.
International media and international community are taking note.
On this score, the President is on firm ground and needs to be
encouraged. This is where President Tinubu’s early steps of
continuous engagement with diverse stakeholders deserve
interrogation.
In the first 21 days of the Bola Ahmed presidency, he has met with
at least 50 citizens and 20 stakeholder groups. The citizens and
groups are as diverse as Nigeria’s divergent sectors and sections.
Some of these engagements have led to the defusion of tension,
such as with fuel subsidy removal, explaining contentious issues as
we had in the foreign exchange unification or giving insight into
presidential actions like the student loan bill. The President has
engaged with ex-militants and Niger Delta leaders like Asari
Dokubo, Timi Alaibe, Former Emir of Kano and first-rate Economist
Sanusi L Sanusi, Billionaire Aliko Dangote, opposition politician
Rabiu Kwankwaso ,ex-presidents Goodluck Jonathan and
Abdulsalam Abubakar, G-5 “PDP” Governors, fiery lawyer Femi
Falana, labour leaders Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, Sultan of
Sokoto, Oni of Ife and other traditional rulers, among several others.
The engagement with Asari Dokubo may have unsettled some
presidency watchers . The argument they have against it is that
legitimate state does not engage openly with non state actors who
seize the platform to denigrate strategic state institutions like the
armed and security forces no matter their deficits. However there is
still value in that engagement .
President Tinubu’s style is a refreshing and decisive departure from
the style and disposition of his immediate predecessor. He has
shown a remarkable ability to listen and consult widely .The
account of Khalifa Sanusi Lamido Sanusi that he listens attentively,
grasps the core issues communicated to him, tries to make sense
of these issues, internalises the significant points raised and
responds appropriately is relevant . Yours truly can confirm it as the
truth.
For insight , Nigeria is a democratic country, and the principles of
democracy emphasise the inclusion of citizens in decision-making
processes. Listening to citizens and stakeholders ensures their
voices are heard and considered when formulating policies and
making important decisions. Outlining his presidential philosophy
during his inauguration speech, the President was emphatic that he
would be a servant leader and not a ruler, emphasising the
importance of listening to and engaging with the citizens at various
times to feel their pulse, understand their views, dreams, and
aspirations, and making decisions that will help actualise his vision
for Nigeria and reflect the broader interests of the nation.
Second, engaging with citizens and multiple stakeholders fosters
transparency and accountability in governance. By listening to the
concerns and feedback of the people, the President can address
their grievances, respond to their needs, and explain the rationale
behind governmental actions. This helps build trust between the
government and the citizens and enhances transparency in
decision-making processes. We are a country with a rich cultural,
ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic diversity.
Third, by listening to the concerns of different stakeholders, the
President identifies potential conflicts early on and works towards
peaceful resolutions. The way the President handled the labour
negotiation that led to a quick resolution and how he listened and
explained the issue of unification of the exchange rates give ample
proof of the efficacy of his communication style . Open dialogue and
inclusive decision-making can help prevent or mitigate social unrest
and promote national unity. These engagements with multiple
stakeholders bring diverse expertise, experiences, and knowledge
to the table, which can contribute to the formulation of more
effective and well-rounded policies. This can lead to better
outcomes and solutions for the country’s challenges.
We may wonder why President BAT’s continuous engagement and
communication with citizens, stakeholders and other special
interests deserve close observation. Let us examine three
significant reasons.
Undoubtedly, our multi-party general elections produced a president
with just about 36% of the voters voting for him and the rest for the
other parties. The president understands there was a need for
building consensus quickly in his presidency to bring everybody
together and lead Nigeria not as an APC president but as the
President of Nigeria. This constant engagement is even more
crucial at this stage because he does not have a cabinet yet, so it
falls on him to make the engagements and decisions and
communicate them. This level of engagement may reduce a bit
when his full cabinet is in full swing.
The second reason is that the President uses the opportunity to
familiarise himself with different issues and perspectives. This
allows the President to stay attuned to the evolving concerns and
priorities of the people. By actively listening to citizens and
stakeholders, the President can identify emerging challenges and
respond effectively with policies that address current needs. It is an
avenue for feedback on government policies and programmes. The
President gains diverse insights and expertise by engaging with
different stakeholders, including civil society organisations,
community leaders, business leaders, and experts. This information
helps him make well-informed decisions considering multiple
viewpoints and potential impacts.
The next likely reason for BAT’s engagement is that not only is he a
natural engager , as seen in his style of politics and governance,
but he also has a keen interest in giving citizens insight into how
critical decisions were arrived at. This opportunity to explain these
decisions and their likely impacts affords President BAT more
reasons to engage and get the citizen’s buy-in into his programmes,
especially in preparing the citizens for the road ahead. Regular
interaction allows the President to assess the impact of existing
initiatives and make necessary adjustments or improvements. This
feedback loop ensures that governance remains responsive and
accountable to the people it serves.
The last reason may be that the President wants to build trust,
make informed decisions, mobilise resources, prevent conflicts, and
promote social cohesion. This is an essential component of
effective and inclusive governance that is people-oriented and
focuses on policies and projects that serve the people’s interests.
Hence, the President’s constant desire to listen, decide and
communicate effectively. This has made BAT’S policy direction so
evident to all.
Some significant milestones have been achieved in just 21 days: Oil
subsidy is gone; major labour crisis averted; student loan bill signed
into law; exchange rate harmonised; house cleaning is ongoing;
new electricity bill signed into law; Data protection bill signed into
law; building consensus and unifying Nigeria; and wooing foreign
investors. These are early days so no objective assessment of his
presidency can be done.
Building Nigeria is more than just a job for Mr President. All
Nigerians must play their part. However, he has shown outstanding
leadership in these early days that is worthy of emulation by leaders
in the state and local governments. They must adopt the servant
leader approach, build consensus, and engage with all stakeholders
in their states and LGAs. Developing Nigeria requires growth at the
grassroots.
Failure of the state governors and LGA chairpersons will mock the
federal government’s efforts, even with the best policy interventions
in place. It is time that governors and LGA chairpersons stop being
little emperors, come off their high horses, and serve their people.
The difference between good governors and LGA chairpersons and
bad ones is seen in the level of development, both infrastructural
and human capital development, in these states and LGAs.
There is no doubt that President BAT has hit the ground running as
he promised. We commend his leadership and look forward to more
achievements from his administration in the days ahead. We also
implore other leaders at all levels to embrace stakeholder
engagement and communication as practical tools for good
leadership.
The quality of President BAT’s cabinet, we hope, will reflect his
deep conviction in quality leadership and the leaders he appoints
will continue to build on the momentum he has created in these first
few days. Quality leaders create quality leadership, which then
creates development. We are full of optimism and hope for what lies
ahead for Nigeria. We must all stand together, support his vision,
and help build a great nation.
