In the first
part of this article, the author assessed the performance of the Muhammadu Buhari
administration on its tackling of corruption and maintenance of national
security. He was also forthcoming with suggestions as to what needs to be done
to win the battles on these two fronts. In this second and final instalment, he
focuses on the delivery of infrastructure and the management of the economy
over the past two years in the context of dwindling revenues from petroleum oil
resources and frayed tribal/ethnic nerves. On the political terrain, posits
that restructuring of the political landscape is a challenge that the Buhari
administration cannot run away from.
Economy
Beyond recovery of illicitly acquired funds,
not much can be said to have been achieved in the improvement of the economy.
Some have been willing to concede that the economy had been battered to a most
serious state before the advent of the administration. Whatever its approach to
restoring the economy back to good health, it must put food on the table of
millions of hungry Nigerians. It is a task that must be accomplished fast. If
this is achieved it is going to be a plus to the government.
However, attention must be drawn to the
reality that the idea of dependency on oil forever is now a mirage. We will
soon realize that oil is not worth the do-or-die battle that we are wont to
fight over it. It is now clear to us that our dependence on and fight over oil
in the past was misplaced. We should not have been to the potential of other
resources – mineral, agricultural, etc. –, which abound in each of the state,
and enough quantities to sustain each state without oil. Now, with indications
that, within the next 10 decades, the importance of oil as a source of energy
will be significantly diminished.
Power,
Housing and Road Infrastructure
These three sectors are now on the shoulders
of the former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, one of the wonderful
ex- governors. Every Nigerian knows how successful he was in the development of
Lagos State during his time. It was in appreciation of his laudable
achievements in Lagos State that that the Federal Government assigned him the
three sensitive ministries whose activities touch every Nigerian positively and
effectively. However, not much seems to be happening in these sectors.
Therefore, Mr. Fashola should please wake up and rise up to the billing.
Electricity should be fixed and made workable, thereby making closed industries
re-open and create job opportunities. Road infrastructure should be improved.
Transportation should not only be comfortable but very safe and secured. And
housing should be made affordable and available to most Nigerians irrespective
of their income. These are basic expectations from government. If it provides
these, it would have won the heart of every Nigerian.
President Buhari is lucky to have a faithful
and loyal Vice President in the person of Prof Yemi Osinbajo to fulfil his
campaign promises. In my opinion, Osinbajo, is the first Vice President of
Nigeria, through divine intervention, to be chosen by the president to act on
his behalf. He has performed with maximum patriotism, dedication, devotion,
commitment, high intelligence, patience and understanding without playing
politics. He has discharged his duties without bias or undue sentimentality to
stabilize the polity. With Buhari and Osinbajo working together, Nigeria is
moving forward.
Restructuring
the Nigerian nation
A decisive response to recent calls for the
restructuring of the Nigerian nation is better late than never. Failure to
restructure the country has been one of the problems of the past leaders, which
has led us to where we are today. It is a welcome news that some of these past
leaders of the country are now singing a new song of repentance and contrition
of sort by calling for the restructuring of the country, even as there are
dissenting views on the matter. Like the biblical teaching, an injunction
which says: “ God wants everybody to repent from his/her sins before death so
as to make heaven not minding when the repentance is made even if at the last
hour before death”.
It is hoped that, from the divergent calls
both by the old and new leaders, Nigerians will reach a consensus on the way
forward. The government should not postpone its decisive response to the
debate. Whether anyone likes it or not, restructuring Nigeria into true
federalism is a task that must be done, as this is the only way that this
country can be truly liberated and be highly placed and respected in the
committee of nations.
At this point, I am appealing to all
Nigerians both old and young to stand in support of the restructuring of the
Nigerian nation and total freedom. I hereby wish to appeal to the federal
government headed by Buhari to listen to the present calls and take the bull by
the horn and do the needful by starting the process that will bring about the
reality of restructuring the country under this present regime. The process
must start now. The opportunity is now at his doorstep and I hope he, the
president, will not allow it to slip off his fingers, only to be remembered as
the president who had the excellent opportunity to restructure the nation but
allowed it to pass him by. The coming generations will judge him harshly for
that if he fails to do so. Should the present government be in doubt as to
where and what side most Nigerians are on this present call for restructuring
the country, it should please call for a general referendum for all Nigerians.
We can now sit and workout how restructuring
and true federalism can be effected and oil is no more a factor so, therefore,
each state will have to grow and develop to produce a more worthy and United
States of Nigeria to compete with the committee of nations. Therefore,
restructuring of Nigeria in order to produce true federalism and a united
Nigeria is a task that must be done. Long live Nigeria Concluded.
– Ogunrinde, an educationist, is
based in Lagos. He can be reached on 08039581055.
Source: leadership.ng
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