Former Labour Party presidential campaign director, Doyin Okupe, opens up about President Bola Tinubu’s motivations to succeed Muhammadu Buhari.
In a recent interview, Okupe shed light on Tinubu’s decision to run for president, emphasizing that it was driven by a strong desire to restore and rebuild Nigeria. Despite criticisms that Tinubu was unprepared for the presidency, Okupe believes that the president’s passion to help the country outweighs any perceived shortcomings.
When asked about the perceived contrast between Tinubu’s “Emilokan” declaration and the state of Nigeria’s economy since May 29, Okupe said, “Unfortunately, President Tinubu has inherited a very challenging situation. The country was in a terrible state when he took over.”
Okupe recalled a conversation he had with Tinubu, in which he warned the president about the significant challenges he would face due to the state of Nigeria’s governance. However, Tinubu remained resolute, stating that he was driven by a passion to help the country.
Okupe defended Tinubu against criticism, arguing that the president shouldn’t be held responsible for decades of systemic problems or the failures of the previous administration. He urged Nigerians to give the president time to implement his reforms, acknowledging that it would take at least two years for some of his policies to bear fruit.
According to Okupe, it’s unrealistic to expect quick results from Tinubu’s administration, citing the example of former Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew, who took 31 years to transform his country from a Third World to a First World nation.
Okupe concluded that Tinubu’s long-term vision for Nigeria is essential for driving meaningful change, and urged Nigerians to be patient and supportive of the president’s efforts to rebuild the country.
