Fayemi to Tinubu: Good intentions not enough in governance

Kayode Fayemi, Former Ekiti State Governor, has told President Ahmed Bola Tinubu that good intentions are not enough to succeed in governance but “leadership requires intentionality to ensure success.”

Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Fayemi acknowledged Tinubu’s bold decisions, such as subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms. However, he noted that while these policies were necessary, they had led to a severe cost-of-living crisis.

He said: “President Tinubu is well-meaning, but good intentions alone are not enough. Leadership requires intentionality to ensure success.”

Fayemi emphasised the need for leaders to apologise to Nigerians for their shortcomings.

He admitted that Nigerian leaders have not done enough to improve the lives of citizens.

“We must apologise to the Nigerian people. Clearly, we have not done enough to make life abundant for them. It is not just about incompetence, but structural impediments have also made governance difficult,” he stated.

Fayemi stressed that leaders must work together to address these challenges and ensure better governance.

Fayemi said: “We must apologise to the Nigerian people. We have not succeeded in doing everything we do to the Nigerian people.”

Fayemi urged leaders to work together to address Nigeria’s challenges, warning that failure to act decisively could worsen the country’s situation. He expressed his commitment to empowering African youth, stating that he was raised by great leaders and feels a duty to help the next generation succeed.