AFRICA’S most populous nation,
Nigeria is witnessing another sturdy moment in the history of the country over
control of political power as the present administration winds up in few months.
About 91 political parties have lined up for the battle for various positions
while only few presented presidential candidates to the electoral commission.
Leading contenders are President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President,
Atiku Abubakar as candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples’
Democratic Party (PDP) respectively. Incidentally, the duo is of the northern
extraction. Others are former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili (ACPN)
and Kingsley Muoghalu (YPP) from the Southeast geopolitical zone, and few
others. Resultantly, the polity is intense and electoral process gathers
momentum.
By ‘SWOT’ analysis, the battle will
be hotly contested between President Buhari and Atiku particularly on account
of popularity, national clout alongside their wherewithals. Their individual
philosophies are the distinguishing factors. Although, Nigeria’s political
system has no clear distinct ideologies, nonetheless, the two leading
contenders alongside their political parties have obvious distinctiveness. For
instance, Atiku’s political party, PDP from 1999 to 2015 had ruled Nigeria without
directions except squandering crude oil revenues and finally plunged the
economy into coma. The major virus, corruption
was fantastically at its peak for sixteen years which made the best hands that
served in the governments to achieve nothing meaningful or substantial as the jingle
‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ was on marble. It was indeed disastrous.
Monumental fraud and administrative deficiencies were apparent. Ahead of 2019
elections, PDP on 26 March, 2018, formally admitted its blunders and
maladministration and tendered apologies for the colossal failures.
On the other hand, Buhari; an apostle
of anti-corruption has led APC government for nearly one term and progressively
diversified the economy ranking the country as a producing nation instead of a
leading consuming nation it hitherto was prior to his assumption of office.
Inarguably, local production of rice and other agricultural produce are
presently meeting local demands albeit on a high cost at the moment as well as
export ratios. If the momentum is sustained with more supports and credit
facilities granted to farmers for large scale productions, in no distant time,
the market forces will pull down the high-prices as presently experienced
accordingly. Another feather to President Buhari is the political-will to
daringly implement the TSA (Treasury Single Account) which has robotically
blocked all the leakages and BVN (Bank Verification Number) thereby curtailing
illicit transactions; making it difficult for public funds to be diverted to
private pockets, thus, no more business as usual.
In terms of infrastructural
development, it is quite understandable that Buhari wouldn’t have performed
magic having assumed office in a critical moment when his predecessor couldn’t pay
workers’ salaries without loans. The government almost collapsed if not for his
prudent management and determination to make a difference. Having successfully
managed the economy out of recession coupled with accurate revenues generation
that now flow into the treasury accordingly, the government has all it takes to
transform the nation in no distant time if given more support. The fundamental work
for actualizing a prosperous nation has been put in place by circumventing all
the loopholes. With prudent management, federal government can proficiently
tackle the secondary aspects which include infrastructural development and
economic empowerment to boost security. The two deadly elements that held the
economy to ransom for years were monetary leakages in various quarters and
mismanagement of public funds, and not inarticulacy or ineloquence. By doggedly
getting rid of the duo, President Buhari has remarkably put the machinery in
place for significant attainments in years ahead. If articulateness or charisma
is all needed for leadership, Gen Ibrahim Babangida’s junta ought to successfully
set the pace for economic progression for the country. But it didn’t.
Leadership therefore goes beyond vocalizations, rhetoric or oratory.
The economy at the moment requires
consolidation of the policies in place by this administration. Any party’s
manifesto that is promising or offers absolute restructuring is merely
deceiving the people as the system cannot constitutionally accommodate such
except gradual restructuring by legislative systems. That is the essence of
legislative arm. The mechanism in motion that has effectively improved the
nation’s revenue generation for the past three years of this administration shouldn’t
be toiled with. With such positive development alongside accountability as can
be attested, Nigeria is irrefutably on its way to greatness. The present
administration deserves more time to clearly showcase its capacities, visions
and missions. Government cannot be changed for changing sake but for a just
cause. PDP having woefully failed the people as formally admitted cannot be in
a hurry to take back power.
At this juncture, PDP should remorsefully,
devotedly watch and learn as events unfold in the polity. By formally admitting
colossal failures of over one-and-half-decade, logically, its successor, APC
must face such difficulties to take-off, and must first have to clear the
accumulated messes before setting the stage for advancement. It is therefore tantamount
to mockery, irresponsibility and insults on peoples’ sensibilities for a
political party that openly admitted monumental failures that held the nation
in captivity for years to be asking for votes to come back to power immediately.
Irrefutably, the government is on course. To sum, consolidation, stability and
sustainability are the way forward.
Umegboro is a public affairs analyst and Associate, Chartered Institute
of Arbitrators (United-Kingdom) -07057101974 SMS-only.
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