Since he won the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June 2022, all we heard from Bola Tinubu was that it was his turn to be president. But on October 21, 2022, he finally released a to back up his entitled 鈥渆mi lokan鈥 campaign.
[Image source: Twitter/@O_Muhammadu_O]
If 鈥淩enewed Hope 2023鈥 sounds familiar, then you鈥檙e in the same WhatsApp group with the people who鈥檝e accused Tinubu of which was also .
Tinubu promised that his manifesto would provide the 鈥渢rue and innovative solutions鈥 that Nigeria needs to address its challenges, so we had to read this so you don鈥檛 have to.
Here are some of the interesting things we found that Tinubu has promised to do for Nigerians if he becomes president in 2023.
No more police guards for VIPs
It鈥檚 not a secret that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is understaffed. Yet, many of the ones we currently have are acting as bodyguards for the highest bidder. They even help their VIP clients carry handbags sometimes.
But Tinubu鈥檚 manifesto promises to free police officers from being guards for VIPs if he becomes president. The VIP guard and bag-carrying job will now go to officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) while the NPF undergoes critical reform.
What it means for Nigerians
Nigeria is suffering from insecurity on a scale that鈥檚 never been seen before. We need police officers to be fighting crime, not acting as glorified guards. But Nigerians shouldn鈥檛 hold their breaths for this promise because every Inspector-General of Police (IGP) since 1914 and have tried and failed to make this change happen.
The import substitution plan
Remember how Buhari has been hostile towards importation and even has a ban list for the importation of certain items like rice? Well, Tinubu鈥檚 manifesto promises to follow in his footsteps and discourage reliance on imports through policy measures like luxury taxes and higher tariffs. Buhari tried border closure at some point, so we wouldn鈥檛 be surprised if that鈥檚 on the table for Tinubu too.
What it means for Nigerians
Tinubu鈥檚 anti-import plan promises to incentivise international brands to set up manufacturing plants in Nigeria. The manifesto also notes that there鈥檒l be support for local manufacturing and production. But if we鈥檝e learnt anything from Buhari鈥檚 anti-import policies over the past seven years, there鈥檚 a lot to fear about this part of Tinubu鈥檚 manifesto.
ALSO READ: Emi Lokan: Why Tinubu Feels Entitled to Nigeria鈥檚 Iron Throne
The price control plan
The agbado master cemented his love for 鈥榗assava, garri, ewa鈥 and other crops with the promise to establish a commodity board. The major objective of the board is to control the prices of staple crops.
Tinubu believes price control will help Nigerian farmers gain their daily 鈧︹2k for their business.
What it means for Nigerians
聽Nigeria doesn鈥檛 have a good history and there鈥檚 little to suggest Tinubu鈥檚 plan won鈥檛 fail the economy like the others in the past. Let鈥檚 see how things turn out.
The content creators’ plan
If you thought Buhari鈥檚 were bad, wait until you hear about Tinubu鈥檚 plan for content creators if he becomes president. The candidate plans to create a Presidential Creative Industry Advisory Team which would review the legislative framework of the creative industry.
What it means for Nigerians
Tinubu says the goal of this plan is to create a better business environment for Nigerian creatives, but we鈥檝e seen all the memes about him and won鈥檛 put social media regulation attempts past him.
The inflation plan that鈥檚 not really a plan
In his manifesto, Tinubu has found a revolutionary action plan for inflation that鈥檚 certain to change Nigeria鈥檚 economy. That solution, ladies and gentlemen, is to study inflation.
What it means for Nigerians
This half-baked non-solution simply means that may not improve anytime soon.
The women empowerment plan
One fact is clear 鈥斅 the number of women in Nigeria鈥檚 political space is very low.听
Tinubu wants to address this and has promised to allocate 35% of all government positions to women. He even plans to strongly encourage private institutions to reserve a minimum number of senior positions for women. Who knew Tinubu is such a feminist?
What it means for Nigerians
If this plan works, we may be seeing more women becoming senators, and governors, and maybe even sitting in Aso Rock Villa.
The only issue with the plan is it鈥檚 only offering women 35% when they鈥檙e half of the population. Why can鈥檛 important government positions be split 50-50 between both genders?
