The Road Less Taken: Tinubu’s Burden and the Price of Redirection

By Morris Nor// In the theatre of leadership, the most difficult decisions are rarely the most celebrated. They are often lonely, misunderstood, and met with resistance. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the early days of his administration, appears to have chosen such a path, a road marked not by applause, but by sacrifice.

This is not the well-lit avenue of easy praise, where leaders bask in the comfort of conformity. It is the narrow, uneasy trail where every step is questioned, every decision dissected, and every silence misread. Yet, it is often on this path scorned and solitary, that true transformation begins.

Tinubu could have followed the familiar script of his predecessors: delivering populist policies, avoiding hard reforms, and preserving the status quo. That would have earned him easy praise, perhaps even affection. But instead, he chose the harder way, to confront the nation’s economic realities, challenge entrenched interests, and steer the country toward long-term sustainability, even at the cost of short-term popularity.

This is not a uniquely Nigerian story. History is replete with leaders who bore the weight of unpopularity in pursuit of national renewal:

– Franklin D. Roosevelt, during the Great Depression, introduced the New Deal, a suite of reforms that drew fierce opposition but ultimately reshaped America’s economic landscape.

– Lee Kuan Yew transformed Singapore from a struggling port into a global powerhouse through strict, controversial, and deeply unpopular policies.

– Margaret Thatcher faced widespread protests for her economic reforms in the UK, yet her policies redefined the British economy for decades.

– Nelson Mandela, after years of imprisonment, chose reconciliation over revenge, an unpopular stance among some supporters, but one that preserved South Africa’s fragile peace.

– Mikhail Gorbachev opened the Soviet Union to reform and transparency, knowing it could and eventually did dismantle the very system he led.

These leaders understood a painful truth: redirection from conformity is an invitation to scorn. It is easier to echo the crowd than to challenge it. But leadership is not about echoing, it is about envisioning. It is about seeing beyond the applause of today to the legacy of tomorrow.

President Tinubu’s path is not without flaws, and time will be the ultimate judge of his choices. But in choosing the harder road, he has aligned himself with a tradition of reformers who understood that real change demands real cost.

As the old wisdom goes, “The one who dares to steer the ship against the wind may not be cheered at the harbor, but history often reserves its loudest applause for those who braved the storm.”

Economic Reforms Long Avoided:

– Fuel Subsidy Removal.

For decades, Nigeria’s fuel subsidy drained public finances while benefiting a narrow elite through corruption and smuggling. Presidents before Tinubu, most notably Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, acknowledged the need to remove it but backed down amid mass protests and political pressure. Tinubu, however, ended the subsidy in his inaugural speech, triggering inflation and hardship but also freeing up billions for infrastructure and social programs.

– Exchange Rat Unification

Nigeria operated multiple exchange rates for years, creating arbitrage opportunities and distorting the economy. Previous administrations feared the volatility that could follow unification. Tinubu merged the rates, aiming to stabilize the naira and attract foreign investment. Though the move led to short-term depreciation and inflation, it was widely seen as a step toward transparency and long-term growth.

– Tax and Revenue Reforms

Tinubu’s administration has pushed for broader tax reforms and improved revenue collection, including digitalizing tax systems and reducing leakages. These efforts, though unpopular, aim to reduce dependence on oil and build a more resilient economy.

Security Initiatives with Political Risks

– Centralized Counterterrorism Strategy

Tinubu has signaled a shift toward a more coordinated national security architecture, including better intelligence sharing and military reform. Previous leaders often hesitated to restructure security agencies due to political sensitivities and regional tensions.

– Community Policing and State Security Empowerment

While past administrations flirted with the idea of state policing, they feared it could be misused by governors or deepen ethnic divisions. Tinubu has revived discussions around empowering local security structures, recognizing that centralized policing alone cannot address Nigeria’s diverse security challenges.

Why Predecessors Declined These Reforms.

– Fear of Public Backlash: Fuel subsidy removal led to nationwide protests in 2012 under Jonathan. Buhari, despite promising reform, delayed action for years.

– Political Calculations: Unpopular reforms risk electoral defeat. Leaders often postponed tough decisions to preserve political capital.

– Short-Term Pain vs. Long-Term Gain: Economic reforms often trigger inflation, job losses, and unrest before benefits materialize.

– Institutional Resistance: Powerful interests within government and business lobbied against reforms that threatened their privileges.

President Tinubu’s journey is far from over. But in choosing the path of sacrifice over popularity, he has aligned himself with a global tradition of reformers who understood that true leadership is not about comfort, it is about consequence.