On January 1, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari presented the traditional New Year message to the nation in which he reeled out what he had done in the past years and what he intends to do this year and the remaining three years of his tenure. He capped it up with an assurance to the nation that he would not be available for the political leadership in 2023 and beyond. This could perhaps put to rest the speculation of a third term agenda in the public domain.
While we concede to the President the right to blow his trumpet, howbeit over blown in matters of security, diversification of the economy, and corruption as he claimed, we make bold to declare that Nigerians should take this declaration by Buhari with a pinch of salt and know that there is no guarantee that it will be an Uhuru if the government’s mindset does not change. Rather, we can say that the President has provided an additional yardstick for the nation and history to judge him at the end of his tenure.
Looking at the highlights of the address, we observe as follows:
- Election as the cornerstone of democracy. It is good that the President took note of this, but can he say that in reality he is committed to observing and enforcing the tenets of democracy through elections, having not acknowledged that the election that brought him back to office in 2019 is grossly flawed. It is not enough to “understand the frustrations our systems have triggered” and commend those who accepted the frustrations. Humility and honesty demand that the President do like the late Umaru Yar’Adua who sincerely acknowledged that he benefitted from a flawed process. That sincerity made Nigerians to believe in his electoral reforms. How will Buhari convince Nigerians to believe that he will supervise a free and fair 2023 election? It is not just because he will not be available. After all, President Olusegun Obasanjo was not available in 2007, yet he conducted a do-or-die election because of selfish interests. We all know that Buhari has exhibited the worst selfishness in governance more than any other past Nigerian leader. The nation will need more assurance than mere “I will not be available”.
- On security, we acknowledge the fact that it has been hydra-headed. We also appreciate the intention to continue to work with state governors and international partners to tackle the root cause; however, we don’t agree to the assertion that the war is being won as there is nothing on the ground to that effect. We also do not believe that change is in the offing as long as government is not ready to review the security architecture. If you have worked with a structure for five years without positive results and you are not willing to change the structure, we don’t believe that you are going to see any change. You cannot continue to do the same thing the same way and expect a different outcome.
- The President mentioned that his government’s actions would be governed by the rule of law and that he would look always to engage with all well-meaning leaders and citizens of goodwill to promote dialogue, partnership and understanding”. We hope that this will not remain a wish as his regime has a disastrous record of abuse and violation of the rule of law.
It is also on record that Buhari is averse to dissenting views, let it not be that the so-called “well-meaning leaders” to be consulted are the praise singers and those who willingly have kept quiet in the midst of our suffering. We know that such dissenting voices such as the Obasanjos and the Danjumas mean well for the nation.
- While we recognise the effort to revolutionise agriculture for food security and efforts being made, we don’t believe that extreme import restrictions and closure of borders in the present circumstance are the ideal. While it is good to protect local farmers and manufacturers, such a policy must have a human face and not tilting to bias. A situation where southern borders are closed with an iron fist while there is unrestricted movement across the Northern borders, as reports indicate, smacks of selfish protectionism.
- We appreciate the intention to rebuild key infrastructure, particularly in the area of transport. However, we are wary that some of these projects are not prioritised particularly in the area of location. We hope that many of the projects will not turn out to be white elephants and become conduit pipes to drain lean national resources.
On power, we appreciate the President’s intentions, but can we hold him to his words that in 12 months’ time, there will be gradual improvement given the fact that the change mantra promised that power would be fixed in six months and after four years, it is still promises?
- We further appreciate the fact that government has acknowledged the place of technology and how our vast youth population can put technology in nation building with a call for debate on our rights and responsibilities as citizens in shaping the boundaries of how best to allow technology to benefit Nigeria. This is a far better approach than the attempt to promulgate anti-technology use laws such as the hate speech and anti-social media bills. A robust debate as proposed by the President will produce something better than the purposed draconian laws.
- While we believe that different areas of government can work harmoniously together to deliver good governance, we disapprove and disagree with the notion that only by being a “rubber stamp” to the executive arm which the ninth National Assembly has subscribed to is the best for our democracy.
We are also worried that Buhari kept quiet to the obvious padding that took place in the budget and the obnoxious N37bn National Assembly renovation allocation. If this had happened in the eighth National Assembly, Buhari would have shouted to the high heavens. However, we appreciate the timely passage of the appropriation bill.
In view of the above observations, the Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship appreciates the President for the following:
- a) Discarding the third term fears
- b) Promising to engage well-meaning people of goodwill to promote dialogue
- c) Planning to increase domestic gas supply
- d) Appreciation of the young, vibrant talented Nigeria youths, whom he hitherto denigrated as being idle
- e) Increasing national minimum wage and new development projects.
However, we are worried that:
- a) There is nothing concrete to show commitment to electoral reforms
- b) War against corruption still looks lopsided and there is no plan for a balance.
- c) Border closure has tendency to accelerate rate of inflation
- d) Our debt burden is increasing and some of those ambitious projects may balloon the debts.
- e) That war against insurgency may not be won as long as the Fulani herdsmen are being treated with kids’ glove and Boko Haram is still surreptitiously receiving government patronage. Also, with corruption parading the military top brass, the war may not be won as soon as envisaged.
We therefore, recommend that the President do the following if he must put the nation on a sound footing in the decade of the 2020s
- Stop the proposed National Assembly renovation with a whopping N37bn.
- Stop the $30bn proposed loan
- Declare Fulani herdsmen as terrorist group and proscribe them.
- Review the 2020 appropriation law before implementation to check the padding.