I won’t bore you with a long prologue.
This article is for those feeling disillusioned with Nigeria’s present state – an ever-failing economy, increasingly rancorous ethnic divisions, the four years of acute economic stagnation that has besmirched the life of the average Nigerian, and the lack of a half decent presidential candidate.
If you’re a staunch Buhari supporter, then this is not for you.
If you’re pro-Atiku, rather than beat your chest with glee, kindly pay attention to the numerous concerns and grievances.
On Saturday, 16th February, you will once more vote for your choice of president.
The questions you should be asking yourself, as you make your decision are simple;
Who is the person most capable of kick-starting the nation’s flat-lined economy.
Who is the individual most likely to listen to the electorate?
Who is the candidate most likely to form a government designed to unite the nation?
In short, who is the person most able to improve the lives of the average Nigerian?
I asked a cross section of people to tell me three things that Buhari’s government has done that have improved the lives of Nigerians.
Here are their responses.
‘I think his main achievement is grow our foreign reserves from $20bn to over $40bn. And generally, plug leakages. Not much else.’
Leke
‘I really can’t say.’
Nath
‘I would say absolutely nothing. No power, higher diesel prices, ailing infrastructure. Most things that can be claimed as positive appear only surface.’
Michael
‘He hasn’t actually done anything that’s translated to making the life of the average Nigerian better.’
Tosin
‘They planned the Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan railway and finished the Abeokuta leg within 3 years. It is a major segment of the Lagos-Kaduna railway, which will improve logistical ops across the country for both people and cargo, thus unlocking more efficiency and GDP growth.
They setup financial instruments that provided funding and FX stability for major infrastructure projects such as the massive Dangote petrochemical and fertilizer factory. As the largest refinery in Africa, it will wean Nigerian off imported petroleum products and reduce pressure on our small USD reserves. It’s a major win for their import substitution economic policy
On the corruption front, he removed end of level boss, and human contradiction in terms, Crooked Onnoghen the Chief Justice. Major win in the fight against grand corruption.
Still on corruption, he implemented the TSA policy that ring fenced all Federal revenue streams from the thousand grubby fingers that were pinching them.
On the agricultural front, during his tenure, our import bill for fish, rice, sugar, milk, and wheat has been reduced by up to 99%. Another major economic win for import substitution
I can probably write 10 areas in which he completely botched up his job
Niyi
‘We now grow our own rice, Trading money(soft loans for petty market traders), and Train service from Lagos to Abeokuta & Ibadan.
He’s the best for Nigeria right now’
Banky
‘To be honest, I can’t think of anything that has impacted positively on the man on the street. There are some things that have improved certain economic indices but have they trickled down to me? I don’t think so. The rail projects Abuja to Kaduna has been completed and is in use. The Treasury Single Account has somehow channelled public funds that were hitherto freely available for chopping. Beyond this, right now I can’t think of anything. No improvements in healthcare, education, infrastructure (very slow).
Awele
‘That one na JAMB question o’
Olumide
‘Tax . Only one mate. Don’t let all the APC sympathisers fool you. And if they say PDP is corrupt yes they were and probably are but half their members are now in APC. The looting in CBN via Fx rounding tripping is on par with the subsidy looting by Jonathan. So, corruption is a given either option unfortunately; but which Govt will make the economy work better is the question we must ask. Buhari or Atiku.’
Gboyega
‘None’
Chris
‘Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, Agric Intervention Fund, Increased allocation to infrastructure is great. Those are three good things he has done.
There are obviously more negatives than positives. Though for me personally the biggest positive is the tax reforms. The non-oil revenues have now exceeded the oil revenues in the budget. The importance of that is that reliance on oil as the main source of funding the budget is dwindling… the approach has been aggressive and near barbaric, but it’s a huge positive impact. Structurally things are changing. However, my biggest grouse with the Buhari Govt is that it is too socialist in nature. He is not capitalist oriented. Govt should not bother trying to do what it can longer provide and fully embrace capitalism by creating an enabling environment for private sector lead growth.’
Mohammed
‘1) blame 2) blame 3) blame. This govt is just all about lies, propaganda, and deceit’
Chinwe
‘He has failed woefully on delivering on his campaign promises. .His two main targets were security and the anti-corruption fight. He claimed a year or so after assuming the Presidency that Book Haram had been “technically defeated”. Rubbish. Boko Haram is still going strong. Ritual killings etc have increased dramatically due to the crashed economy. The Hausa Fulani herdsmen not only destroyed hundreds of farms across the country thereby impoverishing innocent people trying to do legitimate business; not only did they kill thousands of people in the process with the most sophisticated of weapons but for ages our dear President who of course is also Hausa Fulani didn’t do a thing about it. Not only that, he didn’t say one word to even given people an assurance that the government would do anything about it or that he felt their pain.
He has vindicated those who had accused him of being clannish by making heavily lopsided appointments. Heads of most anti-graft, paramilitary and the country’s judiciary are Northern Muslims:
EFCC – Magu
NFIU- Hamman-Tukur
Police- Mohammed
DSS- Bichi
NIA- Ahmed
AGF – Malami
Appeal Court – Bulkachuwa
High Court – Abdul Kafarati
Supreme Court – Tanko
Customs
Immigration.
The entire judiciary is in the hands of a section of the country. His anti-corruption campaign is totally insincere because he turns a blind eye to many of his cronies accused of various things but goes after members of the opposition. It has been said that the highest form of corruption is when you make yourself an exception from something you prescribe or subscribe to.
Of-course in terms of the economy, the country’s never had it so bad.’
Dapo
‘I would have said curbing corruption but focusing on one thing while other major ones suffer doesn’t make for growth or a forward movement so…’
Amaka
So, there we have it. Three out of fourteen people think Buhari’s government has done an okay job; and two out of that three admit the negatives outweigh the positives. But let’s be generous and give the administration three anyway.
Can you remember how, despite Jonathan’s government spending the nation’s dollar reserves on the election campaign, we united as a nation to unseat a sitting president for the first time in our nation’s history?
What drove us to such an unthinkable achievement?
Was it not our fear of the palpable damage another four years of a Jonathan Government would do to Nigeria?? Once again, millions are frightened to death by the prospect of another four years of Buhari’s administration.
Do you remember how worried we were about Buhari succumbing to a northern agenda?
I need not say anymore. For very few of us can put hand on heart and say the average Nigerian is better-off today than four year ago. The economy is in dire straits. There is still no electricity, and poverty has risen to unprecedented levels.
Four years ago, we united and demonstrated to the rest of the continent that real power lies with the electorate, and not with government.
What you need to ask yourself is very simple. Who is the person most capable of forming a cabinet with the capacity to kick-start the nation’s economy?
Who is the candidate more open to promoting unity?
This is not a prayer matter.
We know what we must do; and that is to unite and unseat another sitting president, as we did four years ago.
Olusegun Akande
