The world is holding its breath as the American presidency governs like many African countries used to govern under military regimes—by decrees. America is trying to do it with Executive Orders. Every week, a few people hunker down in a not so bright room in the White House, seeking to find new ways to create the next disruptive Executive Order. Clearly, their thinking is: Let’s see how far we can push the limits of presidential power. They are making a mistake. Someone tried it before. He had his head so high-up in the clouds that he forgot that he was neither in 17th century France at which point the King, and the State could not be differentiated as King Louis XIV declared—L’etat Cest Moi—-“I am the State.” With that mindset, two Kings later, is there any wonder that King Louis XVI was sent to the guillotine?
In 1977, 4 years after President Nixon resigned in the wake of the Watergate scandal which by comparison today would have been wished away by a section of the American populace, an entire Party, a section of the American Press, Podcasts, and Right-wing apparatuses as kindergarten stuff in children’s playground—-Nixon was asked if he would take certain actions —— illegal actions, for example, if he decides it’s in the best interests of the country.
Nixon replied: “Well, when the president does it, that means that it is not illegal,” by definition. Whereas it was that mindset that made Watergate conceivable, this statement notably came 47 years before the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. United States that the president had absolute criminal immunity for official acts under core constitutional powers, presumptive immunity for other official acts, and no immunity for unofficial acts. While some may look back at that interview and call Nixon an evil genius, this author disagrees.
No sir.
If it were alright to have an imperial presidency, one without rules, one without guardrails, one without a smooth transition of power, one without tradition or culture, one that tramples on the Rule of Law, someone would have done it already, and made themselves into a life presidency, (Vladimir Putin style), and your turn would never have come once, not to even talk of twice.
To Be or Not To Be.
When Hamlet uttered those timeless lines—“To be or not to be,” little did Shakespeare know that he had etched his name into literary immortality. When one looks around everywhere today, at everything, stupid appears to be cool, and stupider becomes even more normal than stupid— and this, on both sides of the political spectrum. Nothing says it more clearly than the behavior of the electorate all over the world these days. Every day it seems, the people are just becoming as confused as the people who say they want to govern us. One thinks he is deceiving the other, each side playing the other, everyone losing in the end as we all must inevitably live together in the space we have created—for good or for bad. Let the mutual deceptions continue!!!
In a move that would have been considered inconceivable a few years ago, Trump has established a Faith Office in the White House. The reasoning is simple: If Obama, and Biden could bathe the White House in LGBTQ colors on Pride Day, I too can bring religion into the White House. I’m sure no one would disagree that the Left had gone so bonkers that people of faith were being persecuted for believing what they believed, and how they chose to believe.
Lest the President forget.
James Carville, political strategist, philosopher, wisecracker from Deep South Alabama once said, and every politician ought always to take this seriously: “It’s the Economy, Stupid.” If we travel back in time to the history of revolutions, we will see boldly etched in the background—hunger, famine, inflation, hardship—bread, eggs, milk, potatoes, etc. Humans may harbor great desires, and expectations about how they want to change the world. However, on a very basic level—- people just want to be able to afford food. If people can eat, politicians can almost get away with murder in the marketplace. If food prices harmed Kamala’s aspirations, what makes the president think that food prices will not harm his Party in the midterms? Egg prices are up 53 percent from this same period in 2024. Immigration policies are resulting in fewer farm workers just as the Avian flu has led to the culling of over 130 million egg laying chickens. This is a big deal. The president must declare a food emergency in America if he is to avoid a blowout defeat at the midterms. I would say, he has the rest of 2025 to lay eggs for his country or else —-
Yemi Cardoso, and Brilliant minds at the CBN.
Recently, a publication has been making headlines regarding how much some Consultants are earning at the Central Bank. We’ve always had consultants throughout our development history. These times are no different except for the fact that the new Consultants don’t have European faces. They are from amongst us, but they left their high paying jobs in Europe, and America to come home to help. Ordinarily, some of these people easily command up to half a million dollars a year in those countries that they have left behind to come to work in Nigeria.
We must put pettiness aside and allow Yemi Cardoso do his job. While he’s at it, we need the egg-heads at the Central Bank to figure out a way to bring down our interest rates that businesses may breathe.
From T-Pain to T- Prosperity.
Can President Tinubu help us build a Great Society in the image of President Lyndon B. Johnson, Deng Xiao Ping of China, or Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, or the great Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the Emirates?
This is one of the great questions of today.
Nigerians have been looking for a Messiah. This is why historically, we have always trooped out into the streets to welcome military coups, hoping for change. It is in the same way, and with the same hope, and expectation that we go out to vote in every election.
Are we gonna be lucky with the Jagaban? Whatever he’s doing now foretells the future.
He’s launched the Lagos-Calabar Super highway. Next, we have the Lagos-Abuja Highway passing through Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, Niger into Abuja along with high speed rail. Add to that, the Tax reform Bill which has passed Second Reading—-Jagaban may be taking us on the road to Eldorado.
What else can he do while we are at it?
He can add education reform to include great emphasis on Engineering, and Blockchain technology to make us true giants in Africa. Nigeria can be to Africa what China is to Asia—-the place where everyone wants to make their products at affordable prices.
But sir, like Oliver Twist, “please sir, I want some more.”
The people are hungry. We need affordable food. Unlike road projects which take years to materialize, for which we are thankful, we can launch a Food security revolution, and in one year, we can achieve food sufficiency in Nigeria. Mr. President, Egogonewshub has developed a Blueprint for an Agricultural revolution that is simple, workable, effective, and sustainable. We can help.
As we all begin a new week, may our leaders hear with their ears, empathize with their hearts, and do with their hands.
God bless Nigeria, and its peoples.
O’meekey O. Ovienmhada.
Brilliant piece, eloquently written and I enjoyed reading this.