PRESIDENT BUHARI; FIVE MONTHS IN EVALUATION
by Lamptay Oriakhi
While many Nigerians have enthusiastically been supporting President Buhari as the expected change factor that everyone is hoping would turn the fortunes of the giant of Africa around; it is essential to remind all that five months is already gone in the life of the administration. A careful evaluation of this last five months of the administration is laden with mixed feelings over what to expect in the coming months and years.
by Lamptay Oriakhi
While many Nigerians have enthusiastically been supporting President Buhari as the expected change factor that everyone is hoping would turn the fortunes of the giant of Africa around; it is essential to remind all that five months is already gone in the life of the administration. A careful evaluation of this last five months of the administration is laden with mixed feelings over what to expect in the coming months and years.
CORRUPTION
First, it is essential to applaud the fearlessness with
which the administration is taking on corruption and corrupt officials. However,
Nigerians have a feeling that the matter is being handled with some sought of
selective exploration as some people who are seen to be in the camp of the
President appear not to be in the radar.
More than that, the process itself appears to lack focus and coordination as
too many rats are in the chase at the same time. Hence it is advised that government
get better focused and concentrate on getting indictments with a coordinated
and focused chase of suspects.
TERRORISM AND INSECURITY
With all the rhetoric of Mr. President prior to his
election, everyone had a feeling that by this time, the issue of Boko Haram
would be a thing of the pass. It is
however frightening that the terrorists sect have become even more daring in
recent time. It would appear that the Nigerian military and intelligent apparatus
are not doing enough to secure Nigerians. This is one area that the government really
needs to get her ass together and make do with their promise of ending
insurgency by the end of 2015.
More than the issue of Boko Haram, it has become crucially
essential for government to start looking into the atrocities of the Fulani
herdsmen and the dangerous onslaughts on villages and settlements around the
country. It is also important to look into the legal backing and empowerment of
arms carrying by these herdsmen who have become terrorists themselves.
It is equally of note that the spate of kidnapping and armed
robbery in Nigeria is getting alarming. And it is essential that the local,
state and National security apparatus are strengthened by government for
effective cubing of the menace.
By and large, the Nigerian state is still seriously challenged
by the forces of insecurity.
ECONOMY
The strength of any nation is her economy. And it is
disturbing to note that five months into the life of the present
administration, the economy is not showing signs of hope for the future. As a
matter of fact, the free fall of the Naira against other currencies of the
world is a dangerous tone to economic permutations. In a situation where jobs are
not being created and the environment for peaceful and secured enterprise
operation is not guaranteed, crime and social vices must be on the increase. It
is of paramount importance for the President to put a very smart economic team
together to resolve Nigeria’s economic crisis before the country gets bankrupt.
NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY
On a very worrisome note, there is upsurge in the call for secession
by the easterners of Nigeria. Meanwhile, the Niger Delta people are beginning to
take up arms. While the Nigerian security has been deployed to quell these
uprisings around these areas, the government must thread with wisdom. This is
without sweeping the concerns of these people under the carpet. There is probably
a need to a genuine national conference on the terms of the unity and sanctity
of Nigeria as a state.
CONCLUSION
There is no doubt that the Nigerian state is a state sitting
on the keg of a gun powder in many ways. If things are gotten right, the nation
is bound to smile. If not, the looming danger may drive an unexpected outburst.
However, one can conclude that the intent and purpose of president Buhari is
good. But he needs a more experienced and purposeful people to work with in
different areas of the Nigerian state. That way, there may be some cohesion and
purposeful direction in the economy. We
shall hope that the assignment of portfolios to ministers would start giving
hope to the future of the administration and Nigeria.
