The Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, has argued that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s place in Nigeria’s history should ultimately be determined by the structural reforms he has initiated, the institutions he is building and his willingness to confront longstanding challenges avoided by successive administrations.
Audu, who is also the National Publicity Secretary of the City Boy Movement, made the assertion in an opinion article titled “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Is Nigeria’s Greatest-Ever Leader,” in which she defended the President’s reform agenda against criticisms arising from the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
She acknowledged that the administration’s policies had imposed significant hardships on citizens but argued that the reforms should be assessed against the consequences of maintaining an economic system she described as unsustainable.
According to her, the removal of the petrol subsidy marked a departure from what she called Nigeria’s “political economy of postponement”, where successive governments deferred difficult decisions because of their immediate political costs while transferring the consequences to future administrations and generations.
“Leadership sometimes requires choosing not between difficulty and comfort, but between the difficulty of adjustment today and the greater danger of structural failure tomorrow,” she stated.
Audu said the administration’s economic programme should also be assessed through its efforts to strengthen the country’s business environment and reduce bureaucratic barriers that constrain investment and productivity.
She identified permits, customs procedures, company registration, commercial courts and delays in obtaining government approvals as critical factors affecting the competitiveness of the Nigerian economy.
Through PEBEC and other business-facilitation initiatives, she said the administration was promoting a model of government that facilitates legitimate enterprise rather than creating unnecessary obstacles for businesses.
“Every unnecessary procedure imposes a cost. Every unpredictable regulation introduces uncertainty. Every hour an entrepreneur spends navigating bureaucracy is an hour unavailable for production, innovation and expansion,” she said.
The PEBEC boss linked the reforms to Tinubu’s ambition of building a $1 trillion Nigerian economy by 2030, stressing that such an objective would require more than political declarations.
She argued that achieving the target would depend on strong institutions capable of mobilising revenue, developing and implementing sound policies, enforcing regulations predictably and creating an environment in which private businesses can grow.
Audu also traced Tinubu’s political influence beyond his current presidency, highlighting his experience as a senator during the Third Republic, involvement in the struggle for democratic restoration during military rule, period in exile and subsequent tenure as governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007.
She further cited his role in opposition politics and coalition-building that contributed to the emergence of the All Progressives Congress and its victory in the 2015 presidential election.
According to her, Tinubu’s ability to remain politically influential after leaving formal office demonstrated a capacity for political organisation and institution-building that went beyond occupying public positions.
She described Lagos as an early manifestation of what she termed Tinubu’s philosophy of a capable state, arguing that the state’s challenge in 1999 was not merely a lack of private-sector activity but the inability of public institutions to keep pace with its rapidly growing population and economy.
“States do not become effective because their leaders possess admirable intentions. They become effective when institutions can mobilise revenue, formulate policy, execute decisions, enforce rules predictably and create the conditions in which private enterprise can flourish,” she said.
While acknowledging the contributions of previous Nigerian leaders, Audu maintained that Tinubu’s political journey was distinctive because of its combination of democratic activism, executive experience, opposition organisation, coalition-building and economic reform.
She nevertheless admitted that the President’s work remains unfinished and that history has yet to deliver its final verdict on his administration.
“Giving President Tinubu his flowers does not mean suspending scrutiny,” she said, urging Nigerians to continue demanding better living conditions, infrastructure and social amenities.
She maintained that such demands should coexist with recognition of the administration’s reform efforts rather than automatically disqualifying Tinubu from consideration as one of Nigeria’s most consequential leaders.
The debate over the President’s legacy comes amid persistent economic challenges, including the effects of fuel-subsidy reforms, foreign-exchange pressures, weak public revenues, infrastructure deficits and administrative inefficiencies.
Audu’s central argument is that leadership should be judged not only by the immediate comfort it preserves, but also by the institutions it strengthens and the opportunities it creates for future generations.
She added that Tinubu’s place in Nigerian history was already difficult to ignore, but acknowledged that the ultimate assessment of his presidency would depend on whether the reforms now underway deliver sustainable economic growth, stronger institutions and improved living standards for Nigerians.
