Buhari's One Year in Office

STILL ON BUHARI’S ONE YEAR IN OFFICE

     The last time I checked, the saying that ‘an unexamined life isn’t worth living’ as was propounded by the late great philosopher – Socrates – still held waters in every field of human endeavour. This assertion isn’t unconnected to the fact that any odyssey we embarked on here on earth deserves to be examined at a particular point or having covered a reasonable distance, irrespective of the circumstance.

     Three weeks ago, on May 29, 2016 precisely, the President Mohammadu Buhari-led government clocked one-year since inception. Hence, having covered a tangible distance, which took approximately 365 days, courtesy demands that Mr President ought to thoroughly assess or examine the odyssey to enable him and his allies realize the next step required to be taken. It’s imperative to acknowledge that, most times the assessment in question is best done by the onlookers, not the cabinet members.

      I candidly pledge myself to be unequivocal and whole as long as this critique lasts, because a genuine scorecard doesn’t require an iota of blarney, though eulogy can be accommodated if necessary. Thus, I appeal to those the analysis won’t augur well with, to bear with me. The paramount motive of this piece is to usher in a better Nigeria, which would be beneficial to all.

      Just as it’s well understood that any journey must be characterized by both the good and the bad, this very one isn’t an exception. Prior to President Buhari’s assumption of duty, he categorically disclosed that he was coming to fight corruption and terrorism headlong, as well as tackle all the perpetual crisis bedeviling Nigeria’s economy. It’s obvious that at this point, President Buhari’s administration has been able to combat corruption, which initially seemed like the country’s tradition, to an extent that everyone is marveled how he did it.

     The number one citizen has equally confronted the Boko Haram terrorism, which was on the rampage in the North-Eastern part of the country, tactically that the military had redeemed virtually all the territories that were acquired by the terrorists, thereby making the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to retrace their steps back to their various homes or places of origin. At the moment, the IDPs can exercise at least a glimpse of optimism, contrary to despair which they were formerly preoccupied with.

      It’s unfortunate that having taken a commendable step in the war against terrorism, other forms of insurgency to include the Biafran agitation, Fulani herdsmen conundrum and the Niger-Delta militancy have resurfaced, or have abruptly become the order of the day, thereby keeping the Nigerian polity in a severe state of jeopardy. It’s indeed pathetic and worrying that the Presidency hasn’t been able to address these anomalies as expected, instead their intensity increases on a daily basis.

     Regarding the country’s economy, President Buhari has been able to tackle the lingered leakages found in various sectors. He has succeeded in addressing the ‘ghost-workers’ syndrome that was the talk of the day in the country’s civil service; though enough is yet to be done as regards the menace. Also, by introduction of the ongoing Treasury Single Account (TSA), several antics that prevailed in the past or that were formerly harboured, are now stagnant or have come to a standstill.

      However, Mr President conspicuously disappointed Nigerians when he announced his ministerial nominees in October 2015. Contrary to his earlier pledge that he would work with, or that his cabinet would comprise, only technocrats, he ended up appointing just a few technocrats to the people’s utmost surprise. I must state that this very step taken by his Excellency, perhaps in order to please his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC), is liable to tell on the country’s economy, which he has vowed to revive.

      Aside the said appointment, merging of the various federal ministries that took place before the assumption of duty of the ministerial appointees, which was a highly commendable approach, equally witnessed a lapse. Scrapping of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and therein embedding it in the Information Ministry was an obvious error, especially noting the fact that it was made at the moment we are deeply concerned about diversification of the sources of the country’s economy.    
      Similarly, just to mention but a few, merging of the Power Ministry with that of Works and Housing was a colossal error. One of the greatest achievements that would be recorded by any administration in Nigeria is ensuring that the residents of the country enjoy a round-the-clock uninterruptible electricity supply, thus the ministry responsible for such anticipated accomplishment wasn’t meant to be merged with another for any reason whatsoever.

      Having tendered the critical assessment coupled with constructive criticism, tradition requests that a way forward ought to be equally submitted to balance the equation. To this end, formidable policies should be implemented to ensure that the blocked leakages are sustained; in addition to the TSA, there’s need for a comprehensive database comprising the details of all the government employees with a view to checkmating the ghost-workers syndrome. Moreover, a bill for a Downstream Petroleum Sector should be passed by the legislators to assist the just implemented deregulation policy in the sector.

      We needn’t to be reminded that Nigeria’s money market is currently wearing a pitiable physiognomy; our Foreign Exchange (Forex) is being suppressed by the so-called parallel market, thus making the official points seem incapacitated. This anomaly needs to be urgently addressed holistically. In the same vein; in the last one year, nothing much has been heard about the education sector, if not the proposed scrapping of the post-UTME which is never the paramount challenge the sector is facing. We must acknowledge that no society can grow beyond its educational standard; in other words, the status of any society or country can never outweigh its educational level. Thus, the 2016 budget should pay greater attention to the country’s education industry. 

      Regarding the reemerged Biafran agitation and the Niger-Delta Avengers, there’s a compelling need to make amends if need be. I’m glad the government has ordered for a ceasefire as regards the latter; the proposed sanitation of the ancient Ogoniland is also a way forward, but the government must be very sincere about it.

      For the above recommendations to be actualized, the ministers are required to be proactive. In view of this, any minister who feels he/she would be a disappointment to Nigerians ought to tender his/her resignation at this point; that’s how it’s being done in an advanced democracy. No appointee is expected to deceive him/herself at the expense of the country’s economy or welfare.

      Inter alia, the opposition hasn’t lived up to the expectations, so far. The members of the opposing political parties tend to misplace commendation with condemnation. Opposition is meant to be a wholesome attribute in any democratic setting, because a viable and sound opposition helps to properly direct the ruling party regardless of the circumstance.

     We wrongly perceive the essence of opposition in this part of the world; that’s the reason we invariably see it as an uncalled recipe. In the real sense, even the civil society is supposed to be at the opposition side. Hence, all the opposing political parties as well as the civil society are required to, henceforth, concentrate only on the needful, for posterity sake. Think about it!  

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

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