The political discourse in Nigeria is often hijacked by emotions, personal animosities, and tribal sentiments. This is why it is necessary to reiterate a simple but important truth: the widespread hostility towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not about him as an individual. It is far more insidious.

It is not Tinubu, the man, they hate. What they despise is the idea of Nigeria moving forward without their permission. They loathe a system where their access to privilege is threatened. Their grievance is not grounded in ideology or vision. Rather, it is rooted in entitlement, self-interest, and a loss of relevance.

Let us be honest: many of Tinubu’s critics would be the first to dine with him behind closed doors at Bourdillon if offered the chance. A quiet deal, a handshake, and a photograph would be enough to make them abandon their outrage.

Their opposition is not to governance — it is to exclusion. They are not campaigning for good policies or strong institutions; they are campaigning for a seat at the table. What they seek is not reform, but restoration of their influence.

This is not conjecture. Every prominent figure in the opposition today has, at one time or another, wielded power. Most have held public office.
They have been tested. Yet, what legacies have they left behind? What enduring reforms can they point to? What institutions did they strengthen? The answers are sobering.

For Nigerians genuinely concerned about the country’s future — those who mean well but may not fully grasp the scale of the challenge — it is important to understand that governance is not an event. It is not a bus stop. It is a process, a journey.

Every nation on earth is a work in progress. In functional states with strong institutions, governance is often routine. In such places, systems work irrespective of who is in charge. In fact, a competent civil service, an independent judiciary, a functioning legislature, and strong civic institutions can absorb the shock of a poor leader.

In those countries, even a mediocre or foolish leader can manage to keep the ship of state afloat. History is full of such examples — from the architects of Brexit in the UK to recent missteps in the United States. The structure of those societies protected the public interest, even when individual leaders failed.

But Nigeria is not such a country.
Our institutions are weak. Our systems are fragile. Centrifugal forces — ethnic, religious, and economic — pull constantly at the seams of the nation. In such a dysfunctional setting, leadership matters profoundly.

What Nigeria needs is not just a politician. We need a reformer. A leader with both the courage to take bold, often unpopular decisions, and the foresight to pursue long-term structural transformation.

This is where Tinubu stands apart. His willingness to act, to confront entrenched inefficiencies, and to bear the political cost of reform is what distinguishes his presidency.

Would such courage be necessary in a more stable, more institutionalised democracy? Perhaps not. In such places, leaders are often managers, not visionaries. But Nigeria cannot afford management at this time. It needs direction.

Of course, Tinubu is not perfect. No leader is. His policies should be scrutinised. His administration must be held accountable. But what the country cannot afford is to let petty grievances or misplaced idealism derail a necessary journey of reform.

The criticism of Tinubu should be issue-based and constructive. Not driven by bitterness or political exclusion. Not waged in the name of public interest while motivated by private loss.

Nigeria’s real problem is not who sits in Aso Rock. It is the brokenness of the structure upon which our democracy rests.
Fixing that structure requires more than slogans. It requires courage, clarity, and consistency. It requires the kind of leadership willing to endure unpopularity for the sake of progress.Whether or not one agrees with Tinubu’s politics, the nation must not lose sight of this greater challenge. And we must ask ourselves — who among his critics is ready to confront it?
•Kamal Tayo Oropo is an Ass. Editor-In-Chief News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and formerly of The Guardian Newspapers.