Last Monday, Nigeria’s new Tourism Minister, Lola Ade-John, turned heads when she knelt down to greet President Bola Tinubu after she signed the oath of office register.
Swearing-in ceremonies like this come with much display from newcomers, whether as elected officials or appointees, as they sometimes act or speak in ways that scream ‘newbies’.
Ade-John was not alone, however. Her counterpart in the Ministry of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, prostrated before the President. Like a grateful person thanking his benefactor for an overly unexpected favour, Audu had to be nudged twice by the President and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to pose for the camera. The official photo was also important.
For the new Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, a victory dance and a cheerful gesture sent the entire hall buzzing with laughter. At the same time, religious beliefs did not allow Wike’s deputy or Minister of State as some would prefer, Dr Mairiga Mahmud, to receive a presidential handshake from Tinubu.
These acts may seem over the top to some, but neither Ade-John nor Audu was out of place. In the United Kingdom, past Prime Ministers, upon assumption of office, visited the then Queen Elizabeth II, as required by their law, and the men would bow while the women would genuflect to the Queen. In fact, a former PM, Theresa May, was seen genuflecting to Prince William.
Some said Ade-John, as the face of Tourism, was spot-on for showcasing one of the country’s heritage; respect for elders, but some others felt differently. Regardless, it was her choice and she didn’t violate any law.
An observer commented, “This is culture, part of what the Ministry of Tourism should develop and showcase. That is the standard. She did well. Respect is very critical to every Yoruba man or woman. I am proud she exhibited this.”
Another said, “But there’s nothing wrong with greeting the president like this. She is a Yoruba woman. This is our way and our culture. Everything is not about politics. A reasonable and well-trained Yoruba person will kneel (for females) or prostrate (for males) for their elders. Tinubu is old enough to be the elder brother or father of the lady I saw in that video.”
It may take diverse forms, but culture is what it is, and people should have the liberty to practice theirs, as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. In this particular case, I don’t think they did.
More importantly, however, Nigerians want results that translate to patriotic decisions and improved quality of living. It is good to revere the President, but it is even better to serve, in good conscience, the people of Nigeria who elected their principal into office.
A netizen put it this way, “What I see here is a grateful rookie. You take positions of service and prostrate in gratitude. It’s not bad. Let’s see how it goes with the job itself.”
Goodluck to them!
Sweet promises everywhere !
Some ministers understand the cue. That Monday, after the inauguration, being their first day in office, they didn’t waste time in reeling out their plans.
Wike, who oversees the FCT, sent a chill down the spines of property owners who may have built illegal structures. In a tone sounding like Tinubu’s “Subsidy is gone,” the former Rivers State governor is now known for “It will go down,” referring to structures that violate the FCT master plan. True to his character, Wike vowed to blindfold himself like the Lady Justice and mete out appropriate ‘judgment’ to anyone violating planning laws.
“I don’t care how you feel and where you come from. My task is to ensure that Abuja comes to where it should be. I am here to turn Abuja around. That is the work I have been sent here to do and I am going to do just that,” he stressed.
For the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the riot act came as a wake-up call to all agencies under his purview; the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Federal Fire Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, amongst others.
“It can no longer be business as usual,” was the main refrain from his maiden remarks.
Then there was the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo (SAN), who sounded like his predecessor, Hadi Sirika, when he said citizens might not know the work “we are doing behind, in terms of safety,” but they appreciate what they see everyday “like the cleanliness of the environment and how early they get their flights.”
His focus? “Move from very complex issues to simple issues every Nigerian faces.”
Air travellers can only hope the “simple issues” would include less delayed flights, respect for Nigerians onboard foreign airlines’ flights and getting due compensation for abruptly delayed or cancelled flights.
Also, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, took former President Buhari’s “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” tone when he said he was neither the Minister for Ebonyi State nor the South-East but of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We will not allow files to stay more than two hours on our table because we are field workers,” Umahi promised, outlining a programme of activities to inspect the Abuja-Lokoja road soon.
Again, I wish them success!
FEC meeting may hold Monday
Many people expected that Wednesday would be the first Federal Executive Council meeting, but it would appear they needed a little more preparation time.
Word in the Villa is that the new cabinet members need several days of briefing before meeting the President on Monday (tomorrow).
It makes sense. Some, like the defence and aviation ministers, are stepping into unfamiliar territory. And given the last-minute changes in roles a few hours before their oath-taking, it’s OK if they are still adjusting. Everyone is keen on getting things right from the start!
Prigozhin’s death, but Niger crisis may remain
As the President gets his team ready, in Niger Republic, the junta is planning a three-year stay – a move that has got the Economic Community of West African States shaking their heads in disapproval.
The head of the junta, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, and his men are pulling classic power moves, trying to stretch their time at the presidential palace, even with looming threats and sanctions. ECOWAS is growing impatient, but how long will they hold out? The African Union has also added its ‘deep’ voice. Apart from suspending Niger, it also threatened sanctions against the junta members and their supporters if the junta failed to return the power it hijacked.
On Thursday, Tinubu confided in Nigerian Islamic leaders, saying he was basically the wall between Niger and a potential military showdown.
“I am managing a very serious situation. If you take ECOWAS aside, other people will react; those who are outside of our control. I am the one holding those sides back. I am the one holding back ECOWAS,” he said.
But he also hinted that he couldn’t play peacemaker forever, especially if talks with the junta tank.
Added to the mix, reports indicated that Wagner’s ex-boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died when a jet carrying him and nine others crashed near Moscow. But does one man’s exit mean Wagner Group will ditch the junta?
Don’t forget that the junta had sought Wagner’s support to repel any external threat to the Republic. My take is, Prigozhin may have died, but Wagner seems bigger than one man, and their plans with Gen Tchiani might be intact. Thus, the President still has to keep “managing a very serious situation” as he said earlier.
Thus, with or without Wagner, Tinubu’s ECOWAS has a huge task ahead. Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali are in the mix, and the latter two even sent fighter jets to Niger recently. Things are heating up!
