Tinubu’s Path To National Unity and Citizen Participation: Forging a New Nigeria || Abimbola Animasaun-Yagboyaju
Amid the frenzy of ceremonies for the swearing-in of President-elect, Asiwaju Hamed Bola Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria, the country must not lose sight of the mountain of responsibilities ahead of the incoming administration if the overall national trajectory must change for the better.
To lay the foundation for a successful term, the new president must be intentional and genuine about fostering national unity to cross-correct the glaring division evident in the elections that produced him as the new leader of the most populous nation in Africa.
No doubt, the presidential election results showed sharp division in the country, where support for the major candidates was along regional lines.
Analysts believe that the trend exacerbated the deep-seated divisions within the country.
Despite the division, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu secured victory, garnering more votes, thereby solidifying his triumph over his opposition.
As it is in democracy, the majority has carried the vote, and we might as well be under the leadership of the 16th president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the time you read this piece.
Since this is our common destiny as a nation, for at least the next four years, it is wise to make the most of the situation by finding a sustainable and effective way to make this new administration work for the overall good of Nigeria. Demanding accountability from leadership through citizen participation is one of the many ways to effect change.
As a developing nation like Nigeria, harnessing the power of citizen’s participation is paramount. It transcends merely voting during elections. Citizen participation is an active involvement in public affairs beyond the ballot box. The government of President Tinubu must create an avenue to promote citizen initiatives in community development, encouraging social planning, and social action, to unlock the potential of our citizens to become catalysts for positive change.
A democratic landscape that thrives on active engagement, and fosters a sense of ownership with shared responsibility, can only be created through structured mechanisms and platforms that amplify citizen voices.
However, achieving robust citizen participation is not a one-way streak. Hence, as the incoming leadership is being encouraged to create an enabling environment for healthy citizen participation, the people must also be willing and ready to sacrifice whatever it may take to ensure that they are not mere bystanders who willingly, ignorantly, or nonchalantly cede all of their powers to those who begged for their votes to serve the nation.
Achieving a great Nigeria is only possible with the collaborative efforts of all Nigerians.
Abimbola Animasaun-Yagboyaju is a writer and public affairs analyst based in the United States of America.
