Former federal lawmaker and human rights activist, Senator Shehu Sani, has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will remain unpopular among Nigerians until his administration’s reforms begin to deliver tangible results.
Sani made the assertion during an appearance on Politics Today, a political affairs programme on Channels Television, where he discussed the current state of governance and leadership in Nigeria.
According to him, President Tinubu is fully aware that the policies he is implementing may cost him public support in the short term. However, Sani emphasized that the president appears focused on long-term national interest rather than short-term popularity.
“Tinubu is embarking on a project he knows very well will make him unpopular,” Sani said. “As a leader, you either choose to please the people immediately by doing what they want, or you make the hard decisions for the future of the country, even if it means losing popularity or votes.”
Drawing from his own experience as a senator, Sani recalled how he faced backlash for speaking out about insecurity in the North, especially from lawmakers in his region who expected loyalty over criticism because the then-president was a northerner.
“Tinubu will continue to be unpopular until the results of the reforms start coming out,” he said, pointing to the difficult path that transformational leadership often requires.
The former lawmaker’s comments come amid growing public discontent over rising inflation, fuel subsidy removal, and other economic adjustments introduced under Tinubu’s administration, which began in May 2023.
Despite the criticisms, Sani suggested that history may judge Tinubu differently if the reforms eventually bear fruit.
