Tinubu’s governance by double-speak

Rt. Rev. Dr. Mathew Hassan-Kukah is easily the best known Roman Catholic cleric out of Nigeria because of his deep knowledge of social sciences or social justice and governance facts and figures. Bishop Kukah has to his distinguished intellectual credit, more than one dozen publications on government.

Recently, Kukah, who is the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, made a very frank comment that Tinubu didn’t come to the office of president prepared.

Whilst saying that Bishop Kukah statement is factually accurate, I beg to add that aside not coming into office of president of Nigeria unprepared for governance, the current president of Nigeria has an agenda of collective impoverishment and oppression of the commoners of Nigeria and his central mantra is to empower himself, his close circle of friends, kinsmen and relatives who are in businesses and politics.

Tinubu has elevated nepotism, cronyism and favouritism to a statecraft just as he has demonstrated sufficient taste for ostentatious presidency with the purchases of a ‘KABUKABU’ JET worth several billions of Naira, N5 billion worth of presidential yacht, rebuilt the house of the Vice President for N25 billion, and the gifting of houses illegally to judges of the federal high court and Appeal court in Abuja to ensnare and capture them as political hostages and to cripple the judiciary.

But above all, the most significant aspect of the governance style of the current Administration by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Asiwaju of Yorubaland, the Jagaban of Borgu, is the deployment of double speak, misinformation, disinformation and fake news as the central mantra of governance and this is done by his appointment of nearly 3 dozens media practitioners as assistants just as he is the first president of Nigeria in modern political history without one spokesman.

He, Tinubu has three spokesmen all of whom earn cabinet level salaries of federal ministers because his government made Special Advisers members of the Federal Executive Council. One of these so-called media spokesperson, is so unfit and incompetent that he has never even worked even as a cleaner in any media organisation but the President appointed to spite Atiku Abubakar because this unfit spokesperson on policy issues was the campaign spokesman of Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 Presidential poll just as this cross-carpeter was the person who made the most damage on the integrity and credibility of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and he even called the then APC’s Presidential candidate a convicted drug baron. Today he is one of the three spokesmen of the President who has formed the largest federal cabinet in Nigeria more than any president in history of Nigeria.

So, his special Advisers as well as Tinubu’s unelected son Seyi, has access to participate at the weekly FEC meetings. His is just a government of confusion and organised chaos.

So his government is that of multiple claims all of which are not true. One example will suffice and I will then state exactly what governance is not by stating what good governance is.

The example I have is exactly what my organisation recently pointed out in a press Statement concerning the false claim of the government that it saved $20 billion USD from withdrawal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the Naira and then the unintelligent decision of the same government to obtain the buy-in of the rubber stamped Senate to borrow $2 billion USD from God knows where.

This is what my organisation, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA told Nigerians about this latest show of doublespeak of president Tinubu’s government.

Titled: HURIWA Demands Accountability for $20 Billion Savings, Opposes Fresh Borrowing Amid Escalating Debt, our group said as follows:

“The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed deep concern over the conflicting financial claims and borrowing policies of the Federal Government, questioning the management of Nigeria’s economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, the civil rights group criticized the government for failing to align its rhetoric on savings with its actions on debt accumulation, warning that the inconsistency is damaging public trust.

HURIWA highlighted that just days after the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, lauded the government’s $20 billion savings from fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms, the Senate approved a fresh loan request of $2.2 billion. The loan is part of efforts to plug the ₦9.7 trillion budget deficit for 2024, despite assurances that the savings would significantly ease fiscal pressures.

The association, through its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the government’s financial approach as “troublingly inconsistent.” HURIWA questioned the veracity of the $20 billion savings, demanding a comprehensive expenditure profile to clarify how the funds were utilized or where they are currently held.

“If this government has genuinely saved $20 billion as claimed, why is there an urgent need for further borrowing? This contradiction raises serious questions about the accuracy of the government’s statements. Is the $20 billion savings an ‘audio’ achievement, or has it been mismanaged? Nigerians deserve to know the truth,” the group emphasized.

HURIWA accused the government of misleading citizens and called for an immediate public disclosure of the savings’ details. “Transparency in fiscal management is the cornerstone of good governance. If this money truly exists, the government should provide clear evidence of its allocation. If the claim is untrue, Nigerians deserve an unreserved apology for this misrepresentation,” the statement read.

HURIWA expressed grave concerns over the rapid rise in Nigeria’s debt profile. As of June 2024, the nation’s total public debt stood at ₦134 trillion, climbing to ₦138 trillion by November. These figures represent a sharp increase from previous years, signaling a potential debt crisis.

“In a country where public funds are allegedly being saved and revenues generated in trillions, the persistent borrowing trend is not only baffling but unjustifiable. This pattern suggests either gross mismanagement or deliberate dishonesty,” HURIWA asserted.

The association criticized the National Assembly for its complacency, accusing lawmakers of rubber-stamping every loan request without proper scrutiny. “The legislative arm has a constitutional duty to safeguard the economic future of this country. Approving loan requests without critical evaluation undermines this responsibility,” HURIWA said.

HURIWA urged the Federal Government to halt unnecessary borrowing, emphasizing the need for fiscal discipline. Drawing comparisons to Nigeria’s early leaders, the association noted that post-independence and post-civil war governments managed the economy without plunging the nation into insurmountable debt.

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“Our founding fathers faced significant challenges but did not leave future generations burdened with massive debts. Today’s leaders must emulate this legacy by prioritizing fiscal responsibility and reducing reliance on borrowing,” the group stated.

HURIWA further criticized the disconnect between government claims of substantial revenue generation and the visible economic realities. “The Nigerian Customs Service has reportedly generated trillions of naira, yet these figures have no tangible impact on economic relief for citizens. Where are these trillions being channeled?” the association questioned.

HURIWA called on civil society organizations, professional bodies, and Nigerians at large to hold the government accountable for its fiscal policies. The group emphasized that unchecked borrowing and financial mismanagement would have dire consequences for future generations.

“The current trajectory is unsustainable and amounts to financial recklessness. The government must halt unnecessary borrowing, provide transparent accounts of public funds, and adopt a more responsible approach to fiscal management,” HURIWA urged.

The association also called for a review of all loans secured by the current administration and its predecessors to ensure that borrowed funds are not misappropriated. “We cannot continue to mortgage the future of this country with loans whose utilization is shrouded in secrecy,” HURIWA said.

HURIWA concluded by stressing the importance of fiscal accountability as a critical step toward restoring public confidence. “The government’s duty is to manage public funds efficiently and transparently. Nigerians must demand clear answers about the $20 billion savings and the broader management of our national finances. The future of our country depends on the actions we take today,” the association declared.”

What then is good governance? I will give an extensive citation from the authoritative piece scripted by the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The version of conceptually definition given by that United Nations department is exhaustive to tell us how not to govern a sovereign nation by telling us in greater details what good governance is. And from what the UN wrote on good governance, it is clear that Tinubu’s government is not a respecter of the principles underpinning good governance.

About good governance
OHCHR and good governance:

About good governance and human rights
What is good governance?
Governance refers to all processes of governing, the institutions, processes and practices through which issues of common concern are decided upon and regulated. Good governance adds a normative or evaluative attribute to the process of governing. From a human rights perspective it refers primarily to the process whereby public institutions conduct public affairs, manage public resources and guarantee the realisation of human rights.

While there is no internationally agreed definition of ‘good governance’, it may span the following topics: full respect of human rights, the rule of law, effective participation, multi-actor partnerships, political pluralism, transparent and accountable processes and institutions, an efficient and effective public sector, legitimacy, access to knowledge, information and education, political empowerment of people, equity, sustainability, and attitudes and values that foster responsibility, solidarity and tolerance.

In summary, good governance relates to the political and institutional processes and outcomes that are necessary to achieve the goals of development. The true test of ‘good’ governance is the degree to which it delivers on the promise of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. The key question is: are the institutions of governance effectively guaranteeing the right to health, adequate housing, sufficient food, quality education, fair justice and personal security?

Key attributes of good governance
The Human Rights Council has identified the key attributes of good governance:

transparency;
responsibility;
accountability;
participation;
responsiveness (to the needs of the people);
How are good governance and human rights linked?;

The OHCHR states that good governance and human rights are mutually reinforcing. Human rights standards and principles provide a set of values to guide the work of governments and other political and social actors. They also provide a set of performance standards against which these actors can be held accountable. Moreover, human rights principles inform the content of good governance efforts: they may inform the development of legislative frameworks, policies, programmes, budgetary allocations and other measures.

On the other hand, without good governance, human rights cannot be respected and protected in a sustainable manner. The implementation of human rights relies on a conducive and enabling environment. This includes appropriate legal frameworks and institutions as well as political, managerial and administrative processes responsible for responding to the rights and needs of the population.

The links between good governance and human rights can be organised around four areas:

1. Democratic institutions

When led by human rights values, good governance reforms of democratic institutions create avenues for the public to participate in policymaking either through formal institutions or informal consultations. They also establish mechanisms for the inclusion of multiple social groups in decision-making processes, especially locally. Finally, they may encourage civil society and local communities to formulate and express their positions on issues of importance to them.

2. Public service delivery

In the realm of delivering state services to the public, good governance reforms advance human rights when they improve the state’s capacity to fulfil its responsibility to provide public goods which are essential for the protection of a number of human rights, such as the right to education, health and food. Reform initiatives may include mechanisms of accountability and transparency, culturally sensitive policy tools to ensure that services are accessible and acceptable to all, and paths for public participation in decision-making.

3. Rule of law

When it comes to the rule of law, human rights-sensitive good governance initiatives reform legislation and assist institutions ranging from penal systems to courts and parliaments to better implement that legislation. Good governance initiatives may include advocacy for legal reform, public awareness-raising on the national and international legal framework, and capacity-building or reform of institutions.

4. Anti-corruption

In fighting corruption, good governance efforts rely on principles such as accountability, transparency and participation to shape anti-corruption measures. Initiatives may include establishing institutions such as anti-corruption commissions, creating mechanisms of information sharing, and monitoring governments’ use of public funds and implementation of policies.

In the interest of social justice, and the sustainability of the sovereign nation identified as Nigeria, this government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must be told to respect the best global standards of good governance, avoid doublespeak, avoid misinformation, deception, disinformation and fake news and govern in line with the provisions of the constitution which speak to the strictest adherence to the social virtues of transparency, accountability, and promotion of human rights and rule of law.

These standards aforementioned, are the irreducible minimum standards of governance.

It is because the government has no care in the World for accountability and transparency, this is why it has continuously unleashed poor economic policies that have only ended up weaponising poverty on a large scale, creating unemployment, collapse of the value of Naira and general deterioration of the standards of living of hundreds of millions of citizens. The nation Nigeria under Tinubu is obviously very sick. Only a change of heart, change of agenda from selfish to national and a collective sense of METANOI on the side of President Tinubu and his ministers and appointees, can change the trajectory of imminent doom, collapse, and disorder that await Nigeria in no distant time if the government continues in iniquity and continues to practice inequality, inequity, massive corruption and organised state capture of the legislature and the judiciary.

*Emmanuel Onwubiko is founder of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA and was NATIONAL COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA.