President Bola Tinubu’s qualifications to lead the country have drawn criticism from Dr. Ladan Salihu, the former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Speaking in an interview on Arise TV’s News Night programme, Dr. Salihu questioned the depth of Tinubu’s experience at the national level, emphasising that while Tinubu’s background as a former Governor of Lagos State is often highlighted, there is a significant gap between his tenure in Lagos and his assumption of the presidency.
Dr. Salihu pointed out that Tinubu served as Lagos State governor from 1999 to 2007, but there was a 12-year gap, known as an interregnum, during which other leaders such as Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode governed the state.
This gap was followed by another four years under the current governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to Salihu, this period of absence from direct political leadership may have impacted Tinubu’s readiness and effectiveness in governing at the national level.
He suggested that this extended gap in leadership might mean Tinubu approaches the presidency with a mindset shaped primarily by his experiences in Lagos, which could potentially limit his understanding of the broader complexities of leading a diverse and large nation like Nigeria.
Dr. Salihu stressed that governance at the state level, especially in a city-state like Lagos, is significantly different from managing the affairs of an entire country, which requires a more comprehensive understanding of national issues and global diplomacy.
However, Dr. Salihu was careful to clarify that his comments were not an outright declaration of Tinubu’s incompetence to lead Nigeria.
Rather, they were intended to highlight the potential challenges that might arise from the transition from a state-level leader to a national figurehead.
He emphasised that while Tinubu has demonstrated political acumen and leadership in Lagos, it remains to be seen how effectively these skills will translate to the national stage, especially after such a lengthy hiatus from executive leadership.
Salihu said, “When people told us about the credentials of the President coming on board as a candidate and now as a President.
“They paraded his credentials leading Lagos, but as at the time he left Lagos, there was a 12-year interregnum between Fashola and Ambode and another probably four years of Sanwo-Olu.
“So there appears to have been a situation where we have a President that does not have the sufficient knowledge of leading a nation at the national level and comes with the mindset of Lagos, but this is not to say that the President is not competent to lead Nigeria.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
