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Legitimacy in Governance: the Emergence of Gburuism.

Published

5 years ago

October 2, 2020

By Reuben Onyishi (Ugoachataberu)

Legitimacy is the right conferred on the leader by the people, the led. It is the right to exercise authority and power on behalf of the people. It is something a leader enjoys out of the people’s free will and acceptance. When the oil of acceptance is denied leadership, it is a sign of rejection.

When leadership is not conscious of its legitimacy, it is a sign of emerging dictatorship which may degenerate to tyranny. Neither tyrants nor dictators wielding power and authority against the will of the people ever prosper. The truth is that power belongs to the people and they confer it on leadership willingly. It can never be forced, even when power is obtained by fraudulent means and other ways of suppressing the will of the people. Whoever wrenches power from the people struggles through their reign. Power belonging to the people is an echo of democracy which is commonly defined as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Democracy is a form of government by a representation that has received wide acceptance in many countries of the world as the best form of government. However, the ancient philosopher, Aristotle, was quoted to have claimed that democracy is rather the worst form of government because it can lead to the enthronement of a minor when the majorities are foolish. But the people’s foolishness may well work for their satisfaction; after all, where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise. Howsoever it be, the gift of acceptance the people grant their government legitimatizes it whether in a democracy or any other form of government.

During the build-up to the gubernatorial election in Enugu State, eyes had not seen, neither had it entered into the hearts of men the level of acceptance the candidature of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi did receive it. Thousands of support groups emerged naturally in solidarity with the Ugwuanyi candidacy. It was Gburugburu everywhere in songs and chants of goodwill and heroism founded on his antecedents at the House of Representatives and the natural love for the gap-toothed, smiling, and handsome huge embodiment of greatness, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Ugwuanyi, having earned the love and confidence of the people, was coasting home with victory as he emerged his party’s (the People’s Democratic Party, PDP) candidate. Indeed he emerged victorious expressly to the delight of the people and the mammoth crowd that followed the Ugwuanyi cause. Because the voice of men is the voice of God, all the legal strongholds placed before his candidacy was pulled down successively.

Ugwuanyi’s acceptance also showed itself in his adoption by every other party in the state as their consensus candidate, besides the APC playing opposition in Enugu State during the 2019 elections. This was to be expressed more in his reelection for the second term. Even APC would play opposition in the day and a lover at night, a development that eluded some political analysts thinking Ugwuanyi was going to defect to the APC, a hypothetical misreading of the Ugwuanyi phenomenon that left the analysts astounded. No one was left in the dark as to the emerging enigmatic phenomenon, a holocaust of a movement akin to the Zikist movement of the first republic.

Ugwuanyi’s towering image some had thought to reduce by their sponsorship of virulent attacks. Some sponsored social media folks had run with campaigns of calumny which failed and like water over a duck’s back amounted to unnecessary waste of time and efforts. Any criticism founded on falsehood is bound to fail. The enigmatic consciousness Ugwuanyi represents in astute governance confounded the simple and even amazed the learned. What men do not understand they try to demonize. Every one of such efforts to besmirch the reputation of the star governor failed on arrival. His meteoric rise to the aristocratic palace of excellent governance and the allure of public acceptance that occur with it are a rarity.

In the words of William Shakespeare ( Twelfth Night), some are born great; some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust on them. Ugwuanyi does not struggle with governance and human relationship. The day he was created, it seems His maker took time to wire him with the art of good governance. So he treads with ease to the Olympian height and has demonstrated in clear terms that he is deliberately made a blessing to the people of Enugu State in matters of governance.

The recent rise of the Ebeano political family from political mutation was seen in some quarters within the state as a natural course erupting from the goodwill the governor by his kind nature engendered. The Ebeano leader himself acknowledged how Ugwuanyi lifted him from the cesspit of political oblivion. Some other political pundits see the rise of the Ebeano family as a visitor from the dead on assignment to kill a dangerous ambition forming to truncate the political peace Ugwuanyi has seamlessly maintained in the state. They hold that now that the dead visitor has achieved its purpose, the time comes for it to return to its grave or at best peter into the emerging huge being of Gburuism. They caution that Ebeano has no political future as it belongs to the past, its exhumation for a temporary assignment notwithstanding. They claim that Gburuism has emerged political iroko in Enugu State and that any tree trying to grow taller than it must be looking for the troubles of the sky. These pundits are of the view that the peace, security, sound economy, and relationship management abilities Ugwuanyi has brought to bear on governance are the meat of longevity on which the emerging Gburuism has sumptuously fed itself, a meal which the Ebeano politics had starved itself while it lived and reigned.

The root is going deeper into the foundation of strong politics as Gburuism grows in lips and bounds in the political depth of the people’s consciousness. The Egwugwu has countered into the arena and its conspicuous self intimidates less embodied spirits.

Recently a group is known as Gburugburu Consolidated Movement, GCM, was inaugurated at Igbo-South Local Government. Listening to the leader of the group, Barr. Peter Okonkwo, the commissioner for local government, speaks, one is left with no doubt it is an emerging structure in the state for the advancement of the Gburugburu cause of leadership. Okonkwo did say that they had the numerical strength to crowd out any other political movement out of the state. The movement like whirlwind is sweeping across the three zones of the state and is touted to emerge as the barrel through which the Gburuism power flows. It may be the foundation structure on which the politics of Enugu State shall be built, especially as other sources are expected to coalesce into it. This is one of the things that naturally occur to the ideals of good leadership. People are ready to sacrifice to such ideals without let or any hindrance at all. The group has placed on Ugwuanyi’s palms the power to decide who replaces him in 2023 and also decide who holds what in 2023. It is clear Ugwuanyi has engrafted himself in the hearts of the people of Enugu State.

From what is going on, deep calls unto deep in the annals of the leadership of Enugu State. Ugwuanyi holds the yam and the knife the people have thrust into his palms. Even the people of Enugu East Senatorial Zone are enamored of Ugwuanyi’s manner of leadership so much that they have confidence his decision is the best for them. Having committed Enugu State in the hands of God, it follows that whatever proceeds from Ugwuanyi is first processed in the mills of the throne of grace. Alas! Behold true leadership, a blessing, a benevolent spirit bestriding the landscape of Enugu politics to the delight of the people and to the glory of God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the awesome God of David.

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Presidency Refutes Afenifere’s Deceitful Statement on President Bola Tinubu’s Midterm:

Published

3 days ago

June 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Chief Sunday Dare

The statement from a factional Afenifere group raises serious concerns about a penchant and deliberate attempt to find faults and trade in deceit instead of objectivity. The group has found it challenging to accept that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s comeback story is firmly underway.

The rebellious Afenifere claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s performance over the past two years has witnessed a regression in human development, economic mismanagement, and democratic backsliding.

This is a jaundiced view, echoing the view of opposition politicians, one of whom the group supported in the 2023 election.

A balanced assessment based on available data reveals a more objective and progressive picture, with significant achievements amid the challenges expected from a country like Nigeria with decades-old problems.

Beyond its confounding conclusions based on prejudice, the statement raises the following issues. With the ensuing point-by-point clarification, it will become clear that the group’s position is neither grounded in facts nor logic.

Economic Reforms and Their Impact

The factional Afenifere’s claim that Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, have led to “unmitigated sufferings” and “economic deforms” seeks to draw attention to some of the challenges but overlooks the macroeconomic gains. The removal of the fuel subsidy, announced on May 29, 2023, saved the government over $10 billion in 2023 alone, reducing fiscal strain and redirecting funds to other sectors. Unifying the foreign exchange market and the naira’s floatation aimed to address distortions in the currency market, boosted foreign reserves to $38.1 billion by 2024 and achieved a trade surplus of N18.86 trillion for the country.

Under the Tinubu administration, Nigeria’s annual inflation rate fell to 23.71% in April 2025 from 24.23% in the prior month. Food inflation, the most significant component of the inflation basket, remained elevated but moderated to 21.26% from 21.79%

While these figures indicate stabilisation, the immediate impact on ordinary Nigerians is not lost. The government’s cash transfer programme, which provides funds to the poorest households and benefits over 5.7 million households, is a credible outreach.

However, dismissing the twin policies as “unforced errors” ignores the unsustainable nature of the previous subsidy regime and multiple exchange rate systems, which were draining public finances. A more balanced critique would acknowledge the necessity of reform while emphasising the need for better-targeted social safety nets.

As of today, the Tinubu administration has recorded over 900,000 beneficiaries of the Presidential Loan and Grant Scheme, over 600,000 beneficiaries of the Students’ Loan Scheme, NELFUND, N70,000 minimum wage, NYSC monthly stipend increase from N33,000 to N77,000, Free CNG kits distributed to thousands of commercial drivers across Nigeria with CNG buses rolled out in partnership with state governments, leading to a significant drop in transport costs. The administration also recorded over $10 Billion FX debt cleared, Federal account allocation to states growing by 60%, enabling more local development projects, N50 billion released to end the perennial ASUU strikes, and over 1,000 PHCs revitalised nationwide with an additional 5,500 undergoing upgrades.

The administration also disbursed N75 Billion in palliative funds to states and LGs for food distribution and cash transfers, over 150,000 youths are being trained in software development, tech support and data analysis under the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) project, over 20,000 affordable housing units under construction under the renewed Hope cities program launched across Nigeria, N200 Billion in Loans to farmers and agro-processors. Other gains: over two million Nigerians are now connected to new digital infrastructure and community broadband hubs and public WiFi projects, 3.84% GDP growth in Q4 2024 (highest in 3 years), over $50 Billion in new FDI Commitments, Net Foreign Exchange Reserves up from $3.99 Billion (2023) to $23.11 Billion (2024), over $8 Billion in new oil and gas investments unlocked, and over $800 million realised in processing investments in solid minerals in 2024 and inflation as at April was down to 23.17%.

It is now pertinent to inquire from opposition leaders about alternative strategies they would propose in contrast to this administration’s extensive list of significant achievements currently benefiting Nigerians in real-time.

Cost of Governance and the Oronsaye Report

The assertion that the Tinubu administration has failed to implement the Oronsaye Report and instead increased governance costs is inaccurate. The Oronsaye Report, which recommends the merger or scrapping of government agencies to reduce expenditure, has not been fully implemented and has drawn criticisms; it must be noted, however, that the administration has made some efforts to improve fiscal discipline. The fiscal deficit was reduced from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024, and the debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from nearly 100% in 2022 to under 40% by 2024. The government also recorded over N6 trillion in revenue in Q1 2025, partly due to removing Ways & Means financing and fuel subsidies. These steps demonstrate fiscal prudence and will eventually translate into immediate, tangible relief for citizens. The administration is working earnestly to address these optics and prioritise cost-cutting measures, including implementing the Oronsaye Report, to restore public trust.

Allegations of Prebendalism and Corruption

Afenifere’s claim that the administration favours “the privileged and connected” through corrupt palliative distribution and mega-project allocations is questionable. Reports of palliatives being mismanaged or distributed through unverified channels have no doubt surfaced, raising concerns about transparency.

The administration has taken steps against corruption, such as suspending Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu in January 2024 over alleged fund diversion, signalling some commitment to accountability. Critics may argue that more systemic action is needed, but dismissing all the efforts as propaganda overlooks these initial steps.

Without abusing Presidential powers, the administration is working on expediting action on all pending investigations and prosecution of corrupt practices. At the same time, critical agencies are collating credible evidence on ongoing corruption litigations. It must, however, be noted that in 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured a record-breaking 4,111 convictions, marking its most successful year since its inception. They recovered over N364 billion and significant amounts in foreign currencies, including $214.5 Million, $54,318.64, and 31,265 Euros.

The EFCC achieved its single most significant asset recovery in 2025, with the final forfeiture of an Abuja estate measuring 150,500 square meters and containing 725 units of duplexes and other apartments. The EFCC concluded the final forfeiture and handed the estate to the Ministry of Housing in May 2025.

Democratic Concerns and Centralisation

Afenifere’s accusation that the Tinubu administration is pursuing a “one-party state totalitarianism” and undermining democratic institutions is unsupported and lacks merit. The claim of neutralising the legislature and judiciary is also a false alarm.

The public should note that the Supreme Court has upheld opposition victories in states like Kano, Plateau, and Abia, suggesting judicial independence. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has faced criticism for allegedly appointing individuals said to be ruling party affiliates, but no evidence confirms these appointees are card-carrying APC members.

The allegation that the Tinubu government cracks down on peaceful protesters is primarily unfounded. It is a regurgitated rhetoric deployed under previous administrations as a reflection of broader challenges in Nigeria’s democratic culture.

The issue of the State Police is more complex than the oversimplified approach of the factional Afenifere’s statement. Every administration policy is subject to security impact assessment before implementation, and there is a difference between the State Police being widely advocated and a Police State that critics may blame the Federal Government for if implemented without caution.

Security and Social Welfare

Contrary to the impression created, the administration’s security record is impressive. Over 13,500 terrorists, bandits, and insurgents have been neutralised and 7,000 arrested in the past year, though there is still some news of abductions and violent attacks. The administration’s proactive response to security-related matters has paved the way for more farmers to return to their farms, impacting food production and supply.

The administration also embarked on agricultural initiatives, including tractor procurement, fertiliser distribution, and increased mechanisation.

The government has also not relented on its Regional Development drive as the administration succeeded in establishing Development Commissions across 6 Geopolitical zones (South West, North West, North Central. North East, South East and the Niger Delta) to empower communities and accelerate developments.

Political Climate and 2027 Elections
The claims of government-sponsored conflicts within opposition parties lack concrete evidence and should be ignored.

Economic reforms are undoubtedly laying the foundation for long-term stability, with GDP growth at 4.6% in Q4 2024 and a Fitch B credit rating upgrade as evidence. Moody’s Investors Service’s latest upgrade of Nigeria’s rating from Caa1 to B3, with a Stable Outlook, indicates that the Tinubu administration is on the right path.

The government is not oblivious to some discontent and difficult times among Nigerians. There is an urgency to deliver more tangible results, which is guaranteed given the impressive performance of the administration in just two years.

Afenifere’s statement saw the cup as half empty. On the contrary, it’s half full. Under President Tinubu’s administration, some of Nigeria’s hydra-headed problems are being tackled headlong.

The administration has achieved fiscal improvements, such as reduced deficits and increased revenues, which will eventually translate into meaningful microeconomic relief for most Nigerians in the short term, even as the government moves to address these issues with greater empathy and transparency.

The administration’s demonstrable priorities are securing the nation, fixing the economy, and improving human capital development.

Responsible citizens and political leaders must work collaboratively with the administration to address the challenges and counter disinformation, as highlighted in the admonition against fake news and deceptive AI videos.

Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is turning the corner. From stabilising the naira and curbing inflation to reducing debt burdens and

expanding access to education and health, the administration delivers bold reforms with actual results. With improved security, regional inclusion, anti-corruption measures, and institutional rebuilding, Nigeria’s comeback story is not yet complete — but it is firmly underway.

– Sunday Dare is the Special Adviser to Mr. President on Media and Public Communications.

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