viewpoint: President Tinubu’s NBA Speech that Disarmed the ‘Obidients’

By John Mayaki

Which of President Bola Tinubu’s speeches do you think are the best and most suitable for history books? The former Lagos State governor has delivered many memorable speeches, but it seems that the one at the NBA 63rd Annual General Conference is the speech that schoolchildren should watch and listen to - starting from now and into the future.

Watching him deliver that speech, I noticed a beautifully well-crafted speech prepared for him, but he refused to read it. Instead, he went theatrically to address the issues off the cuff, without flaws or shortcomings but with accomplishments. If you ask me, I don’t know of any president who has put in that kind of work and attitude into his speeches - it was one of the boldest and most audacious speeches of our time.

The theme chosen for this conference, “Getting It Right: Charting The Course Of Nigeria’s Nation Building,” was deemed by the President to be exquisitely fitting and extraordinarily pertinent to the nation’s contemporary state. His impassioned words resounded with urgency as he posed a question, “Why, despite our abundant blessings, do we remain wanting?” He urged a reevaluation of perspectives, admonishing against fixating on past grievances as the sole solution.

Drawing attention to a glaring concern, he lamented the lack of sufficient electricity in countless households and industries, underscoring the profound link between electrification and poverty alleviation. His conviction rang clear — poverty could not be tolerated, and he championed the resolve to eradicate it.

Amid these declarations, he candidly questioned the feasibility of servicing the nation’s external debts with such a substantial portion of its revenue. His unvarnished words warned against a perilous path of financial destruction, urging the necessity of implementing profound and transformative changes.

He courageously mounted the podium. I watched his clever stagecraft, and it inspired me. I’m not sure the speechwriter would be happy that Mr. President didn’t dwell on what they toiled to produce, although it turned out to be the best - even more so without teleprompters to enable him to present a powerful speech that dissected the country’s problems.

I can imagine how the speechwriting team struggled to put that paper together, but the president decided to go his own way and give the speech he was born to give - the speech that will endure among the anthologies of President Bola Tinubu’s great speeches and one that would offer future generations insights into today’s Nigeria.

This most famous presidential speech became the most eloquently delivered. Listen to the full speech - it’s the oratory for me. Yet, the president claims he wants to learn and be criticized. In humility, he extended an invitation for critique, ready to rectify any wrongdoings. The crux of his appeal was a transformation of attitude and approach to governance.

Hear him, “You are learned, and I want to learn too,” but people say this must be another Tinubu compared to Tinubu during the pre-electioneering campaigns. I understand those (poor children) who taunted him during this period are stunned and dumbfounded by this singular fluent and intelligent outing of Mr. President.

So, I even watched it again and again - Mr. President was inspiring, motivating, and captivating. The President’s foresight was not confined to the present moment; he cast his gaze to the future, urging all to endure temporary discomfort for enduring prosperity. He underscored that this pursuit was not an endeavor for self or present, but for the unborn generations, an aspiration to secure their heritage.

And this is already generating reactions - someone said the president simply played us off the track by adopting one of the 48 laws of power - “Appear weak,” “Make yourself scarce.”

Another said, “someone must have swapped this man after he won the elections, or he successfully played all of us into believing age caught up with him. Either way, I won’t forgive him for stressing us while he had this audacious composure.” Others said, “He did that on purpose to cajole some people; he understands everything perfectly.”

Hear this, “Seems like either a masterful political move or a case of someone switching him post-election! Either way, his composure is quite audacious.”

“If this man was a preacher, it’s his church I want to attend every Sunday,” another went religious.

“I wonder too! No one is even talking about his health again. Mr. President has been in Nigeria for months now. No one is talking about his gaffes again. Mr. President is giving them back to back with an audible and correct use of words.”

Hear this, “The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu present at the NBA conference is not the same one who contested the election. He might have been swapped with a Ghanaian on one of his visits to France!”, he went sarcastic.

This is one of the most daring acts of open-air sleight-of-hand ever witnessed by the unsuspecting - intellectually, Mr. President picked the pockets of the learned men, especially those fueling the insidious blackmail, “All Eyes on the Judiciary” campaigns. He relegated his accusers and traducers to the periphery. He disarmed them!

The President went on to preach a greater form of patriotism, saying only Nigerians can make Nigeria great and that we are strong enough to be self-critical. Each successive government can look upon our imperfections and decide that it is in our power to remake this nation to more closely align with our highest ideals. We cannot continue to lament; all hands must be on deck rather than the condemnations.

Looking ahead, he encouraged resilience and determination, enshrining the belief that within each citizen lay the potential to build a formidable nation. His voice carried the weight of responsibility as he underscored the collective obligation to nurture Nigeria into greatness. The President’s vision extended beyond rhetoric to pragmatic collaboration.

While admitting the possibility of errors, he pledged to avoid grievous mistakes and celebrated the presence of brilliant minds within his circle, highlighting the Attorney-General of the Federation as a sterling example.

With conviction, he envisioned the gathering of legal luminaries as a pivotal juncture for collective action. He urged them to rise above the mundane and work cohesively as intellects committed to charting a course to national excellence. The promise he made was a testament to his commitment — to lead by example, to strive with utmost dedication, and to pave the way for Nigeria’s ascent to greatness.

The President continued with a profound call to patriotism, one that emphasizes Nigeria’s transformation as a collective endeavor. His words resonate with the belief that only Nigerians can shape the nation’s destiny, equipped with the strength for self-critique. He conveys the message that successive governments can acknowledge our imperfections and, in doing so, aspire to reshape the nation in alignment with our loftiest ideals. In place of lamentations, the call is for collective action, a rallying of hands to the shared task at hand.

This speech, in my view, belongs to the category of remarkable orations that should find their way into the curricula of schools. Its enduring impact is a testament to its significance, making it an essential read for every child - the speech that disarmed the ‘Obidients,’ and set them at the periphery.

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