[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]  Abubakar Sidiq Usman [@MrAbuSidiq](/creator/twitter/MrAbuSidiq) on x 189.7K followers Created: 2025-07-17 05:51:06 UTC Why TRUE Leadership in Nigeria Can’t Be Measured in X Years By Abu Sidiq Toward the end of his time in office, former President Muhammadu Buhari (May his soul rest in peace) shared an insightful view on governing Nigeria. He acknowledged the reality of leadership in Nigeria, where doing your best may still not be enough. This moment of honesty came from a man known more for his stoic demeanor than self-reflection. Yet within his words lies a stark truth that many who have held Nigeria’s highest office understand. Nigeria’s political landscape is harsh. The presidency is both a thankless and overwhelming job. Leaders often enter office with high hopes and bold plans. However, they quickly face crises, whether economic shocks, institutional sabotage, political disputes, or an impatient public. In this environment, even the most well-intentioned leaders end up spending more time dealing with emergencies than initiating change. By the time they start to find their footing, their term may be nearly over, or the next power struggle has already begun. Most Nigerian presidents spend their first four years focused on stabilizing their administration. They are busy consolidating power, managing party divisions, dealing with the opposition, and navigating complex regional expectations. This doesn’t leave much room for innovation, reform, or long-term planning. Even those who launch bold reforms early usually don’t see the results by the end of their term. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua took office with one of the most disciplined reform plans of the Fourth Republic. He focused on the power sector, offered amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta, and worked to restore respect for the rule of law. Unfortunately, his time in office was cut short by health issues, stopping the progress of his administration. His successor, President Goodluck Jonathan, continued with reforms. He started privatizing the power sector and pushed the long-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill. However, these efforts faced challenges from rising insecurity, Boko Haram’s resurgence, internal conflicts within the PDP, and a difficult re-election campaign. Another major challenge to stable leadership in Nigeria is the common practice of discarding the policies of prior administrations, even when from the same party. Every new government tries to leave its own mark by starting over. This undermines continuity, squanders public resources, and slows down progress. Policy inconsistency has been a constant issue in Nigeria’s political scene. Obasanjo’s economic reforms, including the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) and telecom liberalization, were not fully established. Their momentum disappeared quickly after he left office. Jonathan’s SURE-P program, which aimed to reinvest savings from fuel subsidies into infrastructure and social development, was dismantled by the Buhari administration. Buhari, in turn, started major infrastructure projects, especially in rail and road. President Tinubu has since changed the focus to a new economic agenda and has made some changes to these ongoing projects. Even the difficult, yet arguably necessary reforms Tinubu is currently undertaking may not survive the next transition. As with those before him, there is little guarantee that the policies of today will endure tomorrow. This cycle of erasure and reinvention prevents structural reforms from taking root. Nigeria ends up governing in loops, always starting, never finishing. Little wonder the public continues to endure hardship under each administration without ever seeing the long-term dividends of reform.  XXXXX engagements  **Related Topics** [nigeria](/topic/nigeria) [Post Link](https://x.com/MrAbuSidiq/status/1945722912003997769)
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Abubakar Sidiq Usman @MrAbuSidiq on x 189.7K followers
Created: 2025-07-17 05:51:06 UTC
Why TRUE Leadership in Nigeria Can’t Be Measured in X Years
By Abu Sidiq
Toward the end of his time in office, former President Muhammadu Buhari (May his soul rest in peace) shared an insightful view on governing Nigeria. He acknowledged the reality of leadership in Nigeria, where doing your best may still not be enough.
This moment of honesty came from a man known more for his stoic demeanor than self-reflection. Yet within his words lies a stark truth that many who have held Nigeria’s highest office understand.
Nigeria’s political landscape is harsh. The presidency is both a thankless and overwhelming job. Leaders often enter office with high hopes and bold plans. However, they quickly face crises, whether economic shocks, institutional sabotage, political disputes, or an impatient public. In this environment, even the most well-intentioned leaders end up spending more time dealing with emergencies than initiating change. By the time they start to find their footing, their term may be nearly over, or the next power struggle has already begun.
Most Nigerian presidents spend their first four years focused on stabilizing their administration. They are busy consolidating power, managing party divisions, dealing with the opposition, and navigating complex regional expectations. This doesn’t leave much room for innovation, reform, or long-term planning. Even those who launch bold reforms early usually don’t see the results by the end of their term.
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua took office with one of the most disciplined reform plans of the Fourth Republic. He focused on the power sector, offered amnesty to militants in the Niger Delta, and worked to restore respect for the rule of law. Unfortunately, his time in office was cut short by health issues, stopping the progress of his administration. His successor, President Goodluck Jonathan, continued with reforms. He started privatizing the power sector and pushed the long-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill. However, these efforts faced challenges from rising insecurity, Boko Haram’s resurgence, internal conflicts within the PDP, and a difficult re-election campaign.
Another major challenge to stable leadership in Nigeria is the common practice of discarding the policies of prior administrations, even when from the same party. Every new government tries to leave its own mark by starting over. This undermines continuity, squanders public resources, and slows down progress.
Policy inconsistency has been a constant issue in Nigeria’s political scene.
Obasanjo’s economic reforms, including the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) and telecom liberalization, were not fully established. Their momentum disappeared quickly after he left office.
Jonathan’s SURE-P program, which aimed to reinvest savings from fuel subsidies into infrastructure and social development, was dismantled by the Buhari administration.
Buhari, in turn, started major infrastructure projects, especially in rail and road. President Tinubu has since changed the focus to a new economic agenda and has made some changes to these ongoing projects.
Even the difficult, yet arguably necessary reforms Tinubu is currently undertaking may not survive the next transition. As with those before him, there is little guarantee that the policies of today will endure tomorrow.
This cycle of erasure and reinvention prevents structural reforms from taking root. Nigeria ends up governing in loops, always starting, never finishing. Little wonder the public continues to endure hardship under each administration without ever seeing the long-term dividends of reform.
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Related Topics nigeria