On May 29th, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari clocked one year in office as a democratic-elected leader of Nigeria (remembering he was first in office as an un-elected and an un-democratic leader in Nigeria-who led a military junta from December 31st 1993 to August 1995). That is a great plus for him indeed! (Atleast this offered him a great opportunity to cleans his jack-boat-junta credentials of the past—remembering also that human beings are best led and everlasting developmental achievements are best made in democratic and participatory systems). But the questions many have been asking are: How has he performed? Was it just okay, very good or excellent? The answers are varied and could be personally and perceptually tainted, depending on how one considers it! But methinks that there are some facts (matters) which have arisen and which are notably embedded within and in his one year of superintending on the affairs of the nation as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And all these facts (matters) are uncontestable (even though they are not much talked-about; but to say the least, they are shaping and withholding the achievement dialectics and dynamics of his government and governance. These facts (matters) as identified by this writer (and maybe by others) are:
1. No clearly defined economic agenda—albeit in attainable developmental economics (remembering that Karl Marx posited that the economy is the foundation of the superstructure and therefore needs to be taken-seriously by all governments in power): Indeed, from the unfolding tenure and governmental scenario, there is no clear-cut realizable economic blueprint and visibly seen economic team (that is mandated and “mandatable”) to build (and realize) an economic road-ma-which can be clearly seen and felt as developmental; and which is geared towards uplifting and caring for the welfare of the generality of the people (emphasis here is: on the generality of the people). If there is one, the government should not hesitate to unveil it and start realizing it for the good of the generality of the people (indeed “doing the greatest good for all” should be the clearly seen operating ideology). The “Jankara-Economics” (which is based only on oil and increases on the prize of fuel to source revenue) of the past/old order should stop! (Remembering also that “Jankara market” in Lagos was and still is where marketers sell all kinds of junk and fake products to hapless buyers in order to make huge profit).
2. Took time to hit the ground running: to say the least, many Nigerians complained when the government could not appoint its key officials until after (from) six months in power. Even the President identified this seeming general perception at that point—indeed that some people have started referring to him as: “Baba Go-Slow”. Whether one accepts this awkward scenario or not, this style of governance, greatly affected the achievement index of this administration. Methinks that the paraphernalia of governance should have immediately been made to see the light of the day, immediately the government was sworn-in. As a “change-mantra” government, their onus and onions for governance should have been exposed immediately they mounted the stage of “progressives-in power-politics and activities/actions”.
3. Seem to lack the Theory and Practice of Progressive (Liberal/Welfarist) Politics: Indeed, progressive politics is nothing but the formulation and implementation of Liberal and Welfarists Agenda for the good of the generality of the people. Definitely, a progressive-bearing-in name-political party like APC (which is in-power now and which is having the mantle of its programmes being implemented by President Buhari), should always tilt its programmes and actions towards realizable liberal/Welfarist agenda: which is diametrically opposite to Conservative programmes and politics (seemingly but crudely foisted on the nation by the now self-inflicted wound licking PDP-which was giving the rare opportunity to govern, and to better the lot of the nation and the generality of the people for sixteen years but allowed some of its high-ranking members to steal the commonwealth to emptiness in the name of politics). The further question to ask now is: Is APC (“All Progressive Congress” as a political party in Nigeria) presently activating and realizing Progressive-Liberal-Welfarist programmes and policies for the generality of Nigerians? Your answer(s) will be good as mine!
4. The Government-in-power now, seemingly forgot and still forgets that APC is a political party that came into the said power through (an undefined) Political Parties Alliance: comprising the old CPC, APC, ANPP, factions of APGA (through Rochas Okorocha), and factions of PDP renegades (led by the seven hot-headed and then resolved to break-away governors—which had Abubakar Saraki, Chibuike Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwanso and others as members). Indeed, whoever is conversant with Political Science (this writer is a Political Scientist), could have thought that immediately the government came-into power, they could have “strenuously worked hard” to harmonize all the progressive-tendencies (manifesto and action-plans) emanating from all the parties that came into alliance to form APC—thereby carrying everybody in it along; and also giving all in it a sense of belonging. This was not done; and whether one likes to contend with this fact or not, it affects the achievements and directions of the government in power. The harmonization should therefore be done without further delay. Presently, there seem to be in the same party, strange bed fellows, a congregation of unequal partners and birds of different plumages. Too bad!!! “Bad-mouthers” have, because of this unfolding political scenario, derogated APC as “Arewa People’s Congress” (because it is seemingly dominated by Northern Nigerians—who call themselves “Arewa people”, and who are now also said to be in an un-defined dominance marriage with “Eternal Action Group Faithfulls” (of the South West). Is this true? This writer is still to phantom (guess correctly) the veracity of this ugly vituperation!
5. Lack of Mass Mobilization Appeal; Orientation Capabilities; and Correct Communication Abilities: A progressive-in-name political party cannot fail at any given time to lack the capabilities or abilities of mass mobilization appeal. Indeed, it must be able to reach-out to the mass of the people: educating, enlightening and exposing to them its best wishes for them and achieving its progressive credentials. Therefore, positive orientation of the sensibilities of the generality of the people must be a key element of pursuit; and the realization of a progressive agenda must be the total essence of it’s being in government and political power. Also meaning, that its communication channels and abilities must be varied and far-reaching: making sure at all times that all its energies are geared towards the achievement of its societal changing goals, and other lofty developmental attainments for humanity. But was this done in the past one year of this administration in power? Your answer is as good as mine! Methinks though, that the lack of these abilities greatly affected the great-attainments envisaged and expected “dividends of democracy” from this sitting administration in the past one year.
6. Energy sapping focus on corruption fight: No doubt, fighting corruption and defeating it in Nigeria is an excellent agenda. But the question that has not been asked and answered properly is: Why is corruption prevalent, entrenched and subsisting in our socio-economic and political realities? Methinks it is a “first and second generation syndrome” (forgive us for not explaining it here); lack of the provision of the “basics of life and needs of all citizens (not making them available, affordable and in abundance); greed; and lack of patriotism and nationalism in the ethos of the generality of the Nigerian people. Somebody said that a fight against corruption does not put food on the table of the generality of the people (that is: it does not provide the needs of the masses of Nigerians). He further said that the eye-boggling and societal-fabric devastating financial misappropriation (which is solely regarded as corruption in Nigeria), is a sickness mainly ravaging the beings that call themselves big-headed people (fat cats); who think they are exceptional and achieving humans; but who are not actually humans. Indeed, he asserted without equivocation, that they are currently found within the ranges of middle-to-upper class of Nigerians. So, this seemingly myopic fight by this administration, he further posited, is sapping the energies of the government—thereby leaving little or nothing to uplift the fortunes of the generality of Nigerians. While this assertions and perception are contestable to say the least, this government in power in Nigeria now, must (repeat: must) also focus its first class energies in first uplifting the life and fortunes of the generality of the people of Nigeria (emphasis is: generality of the people of Nigerians—the masses).
7. Too much foreign trips (travels): There are two important sides to everything in life: the inside and the outside! But mankind has been challenged at all times, to pin-point without equivocation, the most important side: the inside or the outside? A great many people concur that the inside is the most important; but also, a great many contrast this stand, vehemently positing that the outside is far more important. But this writer’s further question on this issue is: Inside the human body (and its mechanisms) and outside the body (and its bodily paraphernalia), which one is the most important, and which one assists the human body to function optimally? Methinks inside the body (and its bodily mechanisms)! The outside is a façade, a fanciful camouflage and a cosmetic sepulcher! Without the inside, the outside will not exist and will not function properly. But without the outside, the inside can exist (albeit: at its most minimal level). This analogy, conspicuously relates to the internal and external policies (structures and functionability) relating to a nation-state’s existence too. When the inside factors of a nation’s dynamics are unstable, the foreign (outside/external) policies of any such given nation is also un-attractive. Therefore, many a citizen have thought and written that too many foreign trips as engaged by our President in the past one year could not have yielded so much; because they think also, that the internal factorial-dynamics contending in the Nigerian nation-state are not presently considered to be fantastic! This means that greater efforts should rather be geared at making the local imperatives sustainable before embarking on making the external policies and relations sustainable. To say the least, when the inside factors, policies and imperatives are more sustainable, their sustainable-status will on their own attract external/foreign appendages and partners which will definitely culminate in enviable and excellent relations.
8. Appointment of familiar faces and known names: Indeed, this government decided to appoint familiar faces and known names; who have been part of the old order, while the “change-mantra” and orchestra/symphony music is still blaring from highly mounted speakers—indeed, still reverberating! Does this therefore mean: “old wine in a new wine skin” or what? Incontestably, many of the people who made recordable marks in the annals of Nigeria’s development were fresh faces and names. Take the example of the President himself! He was in his thirties (30s) in the mid-seventies as a (mere?) Lt. Col. in the Nigerian Army when he was made The Petroleum minister and Governor of Bornu stat; and he achieved for the nation considerably (at least building two of the existing refineries within a short time). He was a Military Head of State in his early 40s, when he also made remarkable impact on the national stage and psyche. So, the question now is: Why did he not appoint new faces/names who could have been motivated to developmentally work harder in order to establish their names and faces? Indeed, new faces and unknown faces work far harder (assiduously) like Lecturers trying to teach and research their way-up to become professors in the Universities. The younger they are, the more energetic they are, and perform accordingly too. The more their names are unknown, the more they work harder also to establish their names to become known. There are many familiar faces and known names in this administration and their old-order mentalities are indeed swinging them towards the non-performance indices. Too bad!
9. Nepotic/sectional appointments: Whether one likes it (this statement of fact) or not, this President has long decided to appoint above 60% of his key appointees from one section of the country— the North! Indeed, itemize (list) all the already appointed appointees of key agencies of government, this assertion will definitely remain unassailable and uncontestable. But this scenario which is unfolding in the nation’s History and Political-Psyche is not good for a diverse and tinder-box (explosive, volatile and over-sentimental) country like ours?
A classical example which has been used to buttress this fact (matters on this issue arising indeed) is that the Igbos (a major ethnic group in Nigeria) are seemingly sidelined in the appointment of key officials of this government. None of their kit and kin was appointed to work near the President in The Aso-Rock Villa in any capacity (thereby denying within and inner-core of this government the “oriental/eastern progressive light and luckiness”—as somebody said!). Also, none was appointed in the High Command and echelon of the Security apparatus and other Para-military sectors. Were they appointed Ministers? Yes! But that is their Constitutional right; and therefore, no favours were done to them in this respect. This is an anomaly that breaches the Federal-character provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and therefore needs to be corrected before hatred is attributed to have been extended to and executed towards their race and existence in Nigeria. Indeed, truth is bitter but it needs to be told no matter the situation, so that humanity will properly progress-developmentally.
Also, the cold-blooded killing of many un-armed Igbo protesting youths calling themselves IPOB and MASSOB is condemnable and should stop without hesitation. It has been noted that there is a sort of “sledge-hammer application” on the South-East (Igbos), whenever it seems they are straying from the peace of the graveyard that subsist in our clime; and this is not immediately done to other parts of the country when they do same (stray from what is considered national requirements for peace and stability).
10. Need for Micro Refineries, Power Plants, Cobweb Standard-Gauge Rail System, Mass-Housing, Free-Education and Affordable Medicare Etc., not yet encapsulated: The Government has not realized that “fuel-oil” fuels the economy of Nigeria. Any increase in fuel in fuel prize, increases astronomically, the cost of other necessities of life, and therefore increases cost of living too! The existing refineries in the country which are owned by Federal Government have been left to rot because of corruption and ineptitude. There is need to establish private owned micro refineries everywhere to produce fuel, to fuel the economic engines and vehicles that sustain the economy and make life and living bearable in this clime. Also, numerous electricity power plants are supposed to be built. Indeed, small privately-owned independent power-plants should be licensed to generate enough electricity in “Island-modes” to energize the economy. Electricity enhances life, living and positive-development in modern times, and therefore should not be joked-with by any government in-power at whatever level in Nigeria.
Thirdly, rail transportation into and out-off all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria (cobwebbed standard-gauge rail transportation system), should be immediately encapsulated and realized to gear-up the development of the socio-economic indices of our nation-state.
Fourthly, free education up to the secondary level, should be made compulsory if the nation must begin to say good-bye to the endemic mass illiteracy that subsists. Added to this, is an emplacement of affordable medical care and medi-aid for the generality of Nigerians, if their health-care needs must be seen to be attaining the “citizen betterment status”. Planned affordable mass-housing will also give a sense of belonging to the generality of the people. To say the least, shelter over the head of the generality of citizens, will surely make more citizens patriotic and nationalist (because they are very important basic need of all human beings—remembering also that a man’s home/house is his fortress to be protected from the intrusion of others who either want to misappropriate it or even trespass/encroach on it—and when their homes/houses are protected, they will by extension want to protect their living environment/neighbourhood and their society in general).
11. Physical (Structural) and Fiscal (Financial Derivation and Allocation) Restructuring of the country: This writer has severally written (please Google his name for this), on the need to restructure the Nigerian Federal Structure (Physical Realities) and the operative financial (Fiscal) structure in-order to establish a “rock-foundationed” Federal System in the country. Now, many prominent Nigerians are adding their voice in the call for the restructuring of the country; to avoid the further un-belief by many a citizen and the weakening (or even disintegration) of the presently-constituted federated structure. Indeed, there are forces trying to dismantle the structure as it is now, but they should not be helped to summit it in negativity. Positive resolution entails: an elected national constitutional conference (call it dialogue if you like), to further discuss on the urgent need to restructure the Physical (Structural) basis of the country into eight (8) regions—four in the North and four in the South, but still allowing States and Local Governments to still operate unhindered in these regions; and Fiscal (Financial-derivation and Allocation Principles) basis—therein, allowing greater financial and resource autonomy to the Regions (and States), but which must pay fixed tax and royalties to the Federal level. Indeed, this time and the present government in-power should seize the golden opportunity to achieve it for the greater good, further existence in peace and harmony, and sustainable development of Nigeria. (To say the least, this writer has in-detail and explainably written on this issue and therefore could be patriotically and nationalistically called-upon to present it for the good and positive growth of our country).
In conclusion, let’s stop at this summarily-highlighted eleven (11) points of some of the matters that has arisen (and needs to be positively resolved for the good of the nation), since President Muhammadu Buhari came-into democratic power in Nigeria one year ago. To say it all: these points call for urgent solution and the government in-power now, should not hesitate to bring the needed sustainable solutions to them. There are many other matters that arose in the body-politic cum socio-economic and political plane of the country (like the menace and senseless killings of Fulani Herdsmen, abduction and forced marriages and conversion into Muslim of teenage girls, etc.). The government should therefore make strenuous efforts to identify all of them and proffer lasting solutions to them. Doing all these without equivocation, will surely make them (this government) indelible in the minds and annals of the nation (that means: they will be seen and will become an achieving and Historical government while in-power). Indeed, they should consciously do all these for the good of the generality of the people of Nigeria (repeat: for the good of the generality of the people).
Written by Ejike Kingsley Osuji.
ekosuji@yahoo.com
