Nigeria has remained an unusual country of the absurd since it gained independence from British colonialism in 1960. The 1999 Constitution has further contributed to the bastardization of every element of decency in the country’s political structure and leadership.
Hence, those political elements who found themselves in the corridors of power by hook or crook, behave in a manner that mocks the sensibilities of the citizens in the eyes of the international community.
Otherwise, how can a president of a country who has not stayed up to one year in office, alongside his cronies and hangers on, begin to think about another round of presidential election coming in another three and half years, instead of concentrating on rescuing the country from the myriad of economic and security challenges facing it?
It is for this reason that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government have been struggling to find explanation for the award of the humongous N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway contract to a firm in which Seyi Tinubu, the son of the president, has vested interest.
For the alleged reason of mopping up funds to finance his 2027 reelection, Tinubu is ready to throw caution to the wind in dishing out such a huge contract without obviously following the due process.
Besides, the 2024 Appropriation Act, it was gathered, does not have any provision for such project.
More worrisome is the stark truth about the dilapidated state of most of the nation’s Federal Roads that are impassable. Citizens would be impressed if President Tinubu jettisoned the politicized coastal highway and focused on repairing the numerous federal roads.
The allegation that his son, Seyi is linked with the construction company that got the contract, if in saner climes, is enough for Tinubu to resign his position as the number one citizen of the country.
As the House of Representatives has waded into the matter, it is expected that Tinubu and his Works Minister, Engr David Umahi, would rethink the contentious contract and save Nigeria another abandoned project.
