Islamic scholar, political activist, and civil society leader, Dr Usman Bugaje, has acknowledged THISDAY newspaper?s right to make the selection and declare President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Man of the Year but expressed doubts about the criteria used, asserting that many Nigerians associate Tinubu?s presidency with suffering.

?I used to know him as a man of ideas,? Bugaje said, recalling his time as National Secretary of the Action Congress (AC). ?But I don?t see the ideas, I don?t see the dynamism, I don?t see the progressiveness. I see somebody who is almost turning into a monarch.?

Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Thursday, Dr Usman Bugaje raised concerns about governance, economic policies, and Nigeria?s political culture.

Bugaje criticised Tinubu?s approach to governance, particularly focusing on the controversial tax reform bill, which he described as improperly introduced and lacking transparency.

?The idea to smuggle things and come in through the back door creates a lot of suspicion,? Bugaje explained. He further stressed that governance in the 21st century should be more structured and scientific, focusing on purpose, process, and performance?elements he argued were missing in current policies.

Highlighting broader concerns, Bugaje identified three key governance failures that he believed needed urgent attention: a lack of vision among political leaders, an absence of proper processes in policy making, and a political culture that contradicts principles of accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.

?Leaders fail to understand Nigeria?s challenges,? he remarked, emphasising the need for policies grounded in reality.

On the tax reform bill, Bugaje criticised the bill?s lack of clear definitions for contentious terms like ?attribution? and ?derivation,? warning that such ambiguities could lead to conflicts.

?This bill has no relevance to the current economic crisis? We need a process that takes cognisance of the economy we?re in and the challenges we face,? Bugaje asserted.

While he acknowledged the bill?s attempt to address inequalities, he argued that it did little to tackle Nigeria?s broader economic realities or promote sustainable growth.

Bugaje also highlighted the security situation in the country, pointing to emerging threats like urban banditry, which he attributed to rising unemployment. He emphasised the need for a holistic approach to improving security in order to stabilise production and ensure economic recovery.

?I feel this bill has no relevance to the current economic crisis that this country is going through and I would rather we start a whole process that takes cognisance of the kind of economy we are in, the challenges our economy is facing and therefore craft something that can gradually pick the economy up and will facilitate production in a way that will make this economy recover,? he stated.

Bugaje dismissed the notion that the 1999 Constitution inherently fosters a monarchical style of governance. Instead, he blamed weak institutions, particularly the National Assembly, for failing to check executive excesses.

?We don?t have a National Assembly; we have people just out there to make money, they have no idea of what their job is and they just go to these poor constituencies and spread rice and palm oil and nobody talks about that, if we continue that way, some day we will just wake up to a riot. Yes we need to address those weaknesses in our constitution but even as it is in the moment, we are not operating it properly,? he remarked, stressing the need for stronger oversight to ensure accountability and prevent abuse of power.

Bugaje also called for the withdrawal of the tax reform bill in order to allow for broader consultations, describing the anticipated public hearings as a necessary but insufficient step.

?Why do we have to fight over things that should ideally benefit the country? Why do we have to create a battlefield in the public hearing of the national assembly, there are better ways to do this thing.? He remarked, urging for a more collaborative and less contentious approach to policy reform.

Bugaje called for collective action to address the nation?s challenges, emphasising Nigeria?s potential as Africa?s largest population and a key global player.

?This country is of great promise, it?s a country of the largest population in Africa. In 2025, it is expected to be the third largest country after India and China, it has great potential, it has role to play in Africa and in the world in the coming few decades. Why should we allow it to be stunted?? We have the capacity to do so, we have the ability, we have the intention. So why can?t the president Tinubu or any president that comes in to facilitate the process of getting Citizens to contribute in a very amicable manner to be able to raise this country?? he asked, urging President Tinubu and future leaders to engage citizens in rebuilding the nation for a prosperous future. (AriseNews TV)

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