Nigeria, Feb. 23 -- Tinubu's scorecard, some say, reads like a paradox: political power 80 percent, electric power supply 20 percent. It is a striking contrast in a country where power, both political and electrical, shapes daily life in ways too visible to ignore.

When I wrote my birthday tribute to mark the 52nd anniversary of Governor Umar Bago, titled "52 Reasons His Leadership Shines," many Nigerlites felt I downplayed the painful crises of potable water and electricity in Minna and beyond, especially at a time when Muslims observe Ramadan under intense heat, seeking cool air to ease dehydration and conserve strength. Their concern was not misplaced. It was emotional, immediate, and real.

My response remains simple: there is a time...