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PressRoom
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BY: OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI
It is now close to 2 years that Nigeria's President, Mohammadu Buhari came into power. His entrance into power was with high hopes and expectations. A former military dictator, defeated the Bayelsa-born Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party after 6 years of being in power – the first time a sitting president will lose an election in Nigeria. Mohammadu Buhari's win put an end to PDP's 16 years of rule and dominance at the centre. Buhari won 2014 elections – adjudged one of Nigeria's freest and fairest elections – after the fourth shot at the Presidency. Mr. Buhari's manifesto was hinged on fighting corruption, tackling unemployment and promoting good governance. But little seems to have been done since Buhari took over, that majority of the populace have lost faith faith in his administration. What exactly could be the problem with Nigeria's 73-year old President?
Unpreparedness or Misfortune perhaps? It appears President Buhari's government is probably the most unprepared government in Nigerian history. It took him 6 months to announce ministers and even though we are almost two years down the line, nothing productive from any minister yet. President Buhari in November admitted that at a point after he was inaugurated as Nigeria's President, in May 2016, he felt like running away. He said he would have taken the decision because of the myriad of problems his administration inherited from the previous governments. He said consecutive administrations since 1999 realised unprecedented resources because of the huge price of oil and the number of barrels being produced per day and yet the party in government during the period had nothing to show for it. Did he not know this before he contested?
Still on the blame game: 18 months after President Buhari came into power, he and his APC stalwarts are still blaming the woes of the country on the 16 years administration of the PDP. The blame game has hindered focus and major progress from the his administration.
Nigeria's Economy: The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in real terms declined by -2.24 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the third quarter of 2016. This is according to the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Report for Third Quarter of 2016 released by NBS yesterday in Abuja.
The report stated that the figure was lower by 0.18 per cent points from growth recorded in the preceding quarter. That was lower by 5.08 per cent points from growth recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2015.
Since inception of President Buhari's administration, the economy has been directionless, with no sound policies in place. The naira to dollar rate has also spike to highest in record in over 20 years while the economy faces potential famine in January 2017.
Fault: 'The Change' Should Now Begin With The People: Early September 2016, the Federal Government launched the 'Change Begins With Me' campaign. It said the programme is aimed at educating and enlightening Nigerians to appreciate the values of accountability, inculcate positive attitudinal change. Aside the wrong timing that the scheme was launched, it further places doubts on the sincerity of the Buhari's administration – with Buhari saying that before Nigerians demand to see changes he promised them during 2015 elections, they must first change their ways, by doing away with corruption and other social vices. Why should the Presidency demand change from Nigerians when his government has failed to promote change through transparency? The leadership of the country has not shown the right example to justify Change Begins With Me campaign.
Budget Padding is the new vocab: The drama in Nigeria's legislative chambers with allegations of loopholes in government expenditure have got lips wagging and further stained President Buhari's government. The allegations of budget padding, levelled against the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and three other officers, by former chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, and the denial and counter-accusations have reinforced the escalating degeneration of lawmaking in the National Assembly. Those involved in this padding scandal are members of President Buhari's party. Many are skeptical on what happens to the 2017 budget.
Herdsmen Attacks: The spate of herdsmen attacks, suspected to be Fulani have sacked many residents out of their birth homes, and left so many people communally displaced. It has been an alarming rate of attacks since Buhari assumed office, with no strong measures to curb the violence inflicted by men from his kinsmen. He is seen as being biased and as he continues to talk tough on the secessionists and militants in southern Nigeria, the Fulani herdsmen from his own ethnic division are ‘spared.’
Boko Haram & Militancy in the Niger Delta:The activities of militants in the Niger Delta region have have crippled the nation's economy. The continued crisis in the Niger Delta fuelled by the activities of the ‘Niger Delta Avengers’, among other groups is cause for concern. The relentless blow ups of the country’s oil infrastructure have slashed its crude output. Experts say attacks by the new militant group has shut down nearly 50 percent of output and production is down to 1.1 million barrels per day. The Boko Haram crisis is also there. If President Muhammadu Buhari fails to find lasting solution to these issues, the Nation would be more worrisome about their mandate and APC's programmes.
It is now close to 2 years that Nigeria's President, Mohammadu Buhari came into power. His entrance into power was with high hopes and expectations. A former military dictator, defeated the Bayelsa-born Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party after 6 years of being in power – the first time a sitting president will lose an election in Nigeria. Mohammadu Buhari's win put an end to PDP's 16 years of rule and dominance at the centre. Buhari won 2014 elections – adjudged one of Nigeria's freest and fairest elections – after the fourth shot at the Presidency. Mr. Buhari's manifesto was hinged on fighting corruption, tackling unemployment and promoting good governance. But little seems to have been done since Buhari took over, that majority of the populace have lost faith faith in his administration. What exactly could be the problem with Nigeria's 73-year old President?
Unpreparedness or Misfortune perhaps? It appears President Buhari's government is probably the most unprepared government in Nigerian history. It took him 6 months to announce ministers and even though we are almost two years down the line, nothing productive from any minister yet. President Buhari in November admitted that at a point after he was inaugurated as Nigeria's President, in May 2016, he felt like running away. He said he would have taken the decision because of the myriad of problems his administration inherited from the previous governments. He said consecutive administrations since 1999 realised unprecedented resources because of the huge price of oil and the number of barrels being produced per day and yet the party in government during the period had nothing to show for it. Did he not know this before he contested?
Still on the blame game: 18 months after President Buhari came into power, he and his APC stalwarts are still blaming the woes of the country on the 16 years administration of the PDP. The blame game has hindered focus and major progress from the his administration.
Nigeria's Economy: The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in real terms declined by -2.24 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the third quarter of 2016. This is according to the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Report for Third Quarter of 2016 released by NBS yesterday in Abuja.
The report stated that the figure was lower by 0.18 per cent points from growth recorded in the preceding quarter. That was lower by 5.08 per cent points from growth recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2015.
Since inception of President Buhari's administration, the economy has been directionless, with no sound policies in place. The naira to dollar rate has also spike to highest in record in over 20 years while the economy faces potential famine in January 2017.
Fault: 'The Change' Should Now Begin With The People: Early September 2016, the Federal Government launched the 'Change Begins With Me' campaign. It said the programme is aimed at educating and enlightening Nigerians to appreciate the values of accountability, inculcate positive attitudinal change. Aside the wrong timing that the scheme was launched, it further places doubts on the sincerity of the Buhari's administration – with Buhari saying that before Nigerians demand to see changes he promised them during 2015 elections, they must first change their ways, by doing away with corruption and other social vices. Why should the Presidency demand change from Nigerians when his government has failed to promote change through transparency? The leadership of the country has not shown the right example to justify Change Begins With Me campaign.
Budget Padding is the new vocab: The drama in Nigeria's legislative chambers with allegations of loopholes in government expenditure have got lips wagging and further stained President Buhari's government. The allegations of budget padding, levelled against the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and three other officers, by former chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, and the denial and counter-accusations have reinforced the escalating degeneration of lawmaking in the National Assembly. Those involved in this padding scandal are members of President Buhari's party. Many are skeptical on what happens to the 2017 budget.
Herdsmen Attacks: The spate of herdsmen attacks, suspected to be Fulani have sacked many residents out of their birth homes, and left so many people communally displaced. It has been an alarming rate of attacks since Buhari assumed office, with no strong measures to curb the violence inflicted by men from his kinsmen. He is seen as being biased and as he continues to talk tough on the secessionists and militants in southern Nigeria, the Fulani herdsmen from his own ethnic division are ‘spared.’
Boko Haram & Militancy in the Niger Delta:The activities of militants in the Niger Delta region have have crippled the nation's economy. The continued crisis in the Niger Delta fuelled by the activities of the ‘Niger Delta Avengers’, among other groups is cause for concern. The relentless blow ups of the country’s oil infrastructure have slashed its crude output. Experts say attacks by the new militant group has shut down nearly 50 percent of output and production is down to 1.1 million barrels per day. The Boko Haram crisis is also there. If President Muhammadu Buhari fails to find lasting solution to these issues, the Nation would be more worrisome about their mandate and APC's programmes.