Olu Allen
Nigeria’s twin crises under its two All Progressives Congress (APC) presidents spring from a single flaw: both men fought harder for the title of president than for the tools of governance.
They mastered the race to power but neglected the craft of leadership. When ambition outruns vision, the nation is left adrift.
Muhammadu Buhari’s quest for the presidency was relentless, spanning decades. Yet it was fueled less by a concrete plan for Nigeria’s revival than by the desire to reclaim the seat lost in the 1985 coup.
In 2015, he rode to victory on the back of a public hungry for integrity and discipline. But popularity proved no substitute for preparation.
His government stalled before it began, taking months to form a cabinet, and often reacted slowly to escalating insecurity, economic recession, and other crises.
The “body language” mystique gave way to inertia, and his tenure became defined by drift rather than decisive action.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu took a different path, patient, calculated, and strategic. For decades, he built alliances, installed loyalists, and carefully positioned himself for the presidency.
His 2023 victory was the final act of a long political play. Yet his base lacked the organic fervor of a genuine movement; much of it was transactional, stitched together by deals and patronage.
The question now is whether political engineering can become visionary governance. Early signs are troubling: abrupt fuel subsidy removal triggering hyperinflation, a volatile exchange rate policy, and policy rollbacks under public pressure all point to a leader still translating political skill into coherent national strategy.
This is not a Nigerian anomaly; history offers grim precedents. Napoleon Bonaparte’s hunger for conquest beyond France’s needs led to ruin, just as Buhari’s obsession with reclaiming office outpaced his readiness to lead.
Emperor Nero’s love of power without the discipline of governance echoes Tinubu’s uncertain start. Herbert Hoover’s inability to adapt in crisis mirrors both presidents’ struggles to match ambition with competence.
The results in Nigeria are undeniable: Buhari left deeper insecurity, economic fragility, and a nation weary of unfulfilled promises.
Tinubu, still early in his term, has presided over worsening living standards, volatile policy shifts, and eroding public trust.
Leadership is not the same as winning an election. It demands vision beyond personal ambition, the intellect to craft solutions, and the will to execute them.
The presidency is not a ceremonial crown but a heavy responsibility. When the office is claimed chiefly through ambition rather than capacity, the cost is measured in instability, hardship, and squandered potential. Under two APC presidencies, Nigeria is learning this lesson the hard way.
Allen is a writer and educator based in Kano. He writes on public affairs and promotes good governance. mrallenolu@gmail.com
