May 29 is just around the corner. Nigerians wake up to the reality that Bola Ahmed Tinubu—political warlord, APC kingmaker, and self-declared architect of modern Lagos—has officially completed two years in office as President.
But the excitement that once greeted the “Renewed Hope” agenda has mostly fizzled out like a sachet of pure water in the sun.
Some say he’s the messiah we were promised. Others say he’s just a more eloquent version of Buhari with better tailoring and a Twitter-savvy media team. So, two years in, we must ask: Has Tinubu failed Nigeria—or are we just too impatient for miracles in a broken system?
The Economy: Renewed Hope Or Renewed Suffering?
Tinubu started strong with a bang—fuel subsidy gone, exchange rates floated, and policies that screamed “free market!” louder than a Yaba trader.
But almost instantly, Nigerians screamed back louder—“We can’t breathe!”
- Prices of goods shot up like gospel singers at a Pentecostal crusade.
- Fuel went from affordable to luxury.
- Naira became a shadow of its former self.
Yes, Tinubu tried to assure us that “pain today means progress tomorrow.” But after two years of “suffering and smiling,” even the die-hard APC supporters are beginning to ask: When exactly is tomorrow?
Security: Still A Nation Under Siege
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Nigeria is still unsafe.
From the blood-soaked fields of Kaduna to the dark corners of Zamfara and the kidnapping highways of the Southeast, Tinubu’s administration has struggled to deliver the kind of decisive security Nigerians desperately crave.
Yes, new appointments were made. Yes, the service chiefs got reshuffled. But if Nigerians can’t drive from Abuja to Kogi without fear of bandits, what’s the point of changing titles when the terror remains the same?
Politics: The Game Is Still The Game
If there’s one thing Tinubu understands, it’s the game of politics. And he’s playing it like a grandmaster.
From orchestrating mass defections of PDP politicians to engineering APC dominance across key states, Tinubu has proven that he’s not just in office—he’s in charge.
But here’s the problem: that same control is seen by critics as a tightening grip on Nigeria’s democratic throat.
Opposition parties are withering. Internal dissent is stifled. And the ruling party is beginning to look a lot like the one-party states we mocked in history class.
So is Tinubu building stability—or simply consolidating power under the guise of governance?
Public Sentiment: Word On The Streets
On one end, Tinubu has loyalists who see him as a strategic genius—“It’s long-term gains!” they say. “We’re fixing what Buhari broke!”
On the other end, there are Nigerians who feel betrayed, broke, and bruised. For them, every “Jagaban is working” post on social media feels like insult added to economic injury.
Did You Miss? Two Years Of Jagaban: Tinubu’s Reign, Reactions, And The Republic On Life Support
A Lagos Keke-rider summed it up best when i spoke with him: “This man removed subsidy and told us to endure, but na him dey fly private jet go Qatar for economic summit. Wetin concern me with summit when I no fit buy bread?”
What Tinubu Has Going For Him
Let’s be fair. It hasn’t been all doom and gloom:
- The Dangote Refinery is producing fuel locally—slashing petrol prices slightly.
- The CBN reforms are trying to clean up the monetary mess.
- There’s a push for foreign investment and local manufacturing.
- Infrastructure projects like roads and rail are ongoing—albeit slowly.
But the big question remains: Are these achievements enough to counterbalance the rising hunger, insecurity, and frustration?
Should Nigerians Be More Patient?
Some defenders of the Tinubu regime argue that two years is too short to clean up decades of rot. The same thing they said on May 29 of 2024.
They say Nigerians want microwave miracles in a country that’s been slow-cooked in corruption.
Fair point. But the counter-argument is this: Should a “messiah” come into office without a game plan? Should a reformer not anticipate the impact of his policies before executing them at the expense of the masses?
After all, hope without a plan is just national gaslighting.
Messiah, Magician, Or Mastermind?
So, two years in, what is Tinubu really?
- To some, he’s the bold reformer Nigeria needed.
- To others, he’s a smooth-talking politician repackaging old problems with new PR.
- To many, he’s a symbol of failed expectations—another president who promised gold but delivered pepper.
Whether he becomes a legend or just another name in the dusty scroll of Nigerian disappointments depends entirely on what he does next.
But for now, the messiah many voted for is looking a lot more human—and Nigerians are still stuck in the wilderness, waiting for milk, honey, or just affordable garri.
