President Tinubu’s First Major Mistake

By Emeka Ugwuonye

As has been seen in many similar situations, the first mistake a President makes upon coming to office is the failure to distinguish between what he needed to win election and what he needs to govern. President Tinubu’s absurd cozying up with Asari Dokubo is an example of a President who has confused what he needed to win election and what he needs to govern Nigeria.

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During the campaign, APC and Tinubu were noticeably weak in the Niger Delta and the South South and South East. For him to win votes in those areas, he needed to make strange alliances. Hence, his alliance with Governor Wike, a PDP Chieftain, and Asari Dokubo, a certified militant and warlord who had threatened the country of Nigeria on numerous occasions in the past. Indeed, Dokubo once waged war against Nigeria.

Given that Nigeria is a country bedeviled by militancy and various armed groups, it is dangerous for Tinubu to be seen closely associating his government with a known militant. It causes confusion as to what will be Tinubu’s policy toward militancy and the problems caused by it. It also raises question as to whether the government of Tinubu would treat all militants equally or whether he would have favorite militants and those he does not favor.

Asari Dokubo’s relationship with Tinubu is deeply troubling. Nigerians were shocked to hear Asari Dokubo dictating how Nigerian Government should treat the IPOB leader. Also, he was seen condemning the Nigerian military for oil theft, which has been a major problem to Nigeria. And finally, Dokubo, whose armed men carry dangerous combat grade weapons openly, was heard boasting that it was his men that were providing security in places that would have required the Nigerian army and police force. Invariably, Dokubo poses as a private army approved by the President outside the constitution.

Naturally, the position of Dokubo is causing a big stir among Nigerian security agencies. A retired Army Major General, Tajudeen Olanrewaju, responding to Dokubo’s statements, has asked the police and the State Security Service (SSS) to investigate the Niger Delta ex-militant, Asari Dokubo.

In Olanrawaju’s words, “It should not be heard that an Asari Dokubo and his boys were able to carry arms and now boasting around to be behind the success against insecurity of terrorists and bandits on the Abuja-Kaduna axis, Niger State and across the Niger Delta, while putting the military up as liars for laying claims to same. This man is playing to the gallery without any proof of evidence, and so, he should not be treated lightly. It is in the interest of Mr. President to act on the open denigrating of his status as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

It is easy to understand that most officers in the Nigerian Army and Police and other security agencies feel exactly like General Olanrewaju. The President must understand the gravity of their feelings. He must quickly distance himself from Dokubo. Election is over. It is time for him to govern Nigeria intelligently and effectively. Dokubo cannot be encouraged to compete with the Nigerian Army. The situation in Sudan right now is something every serious leader in Africa should avoid in his own country.