Buhari Will Build a New Nigeria
After all the initial celebrations and euphoria over the emergence of General Buhari as incoming President of our dear country, it is worthwhile taking a futurist view of the real implications of this inspirational leader of men steering the affairs of our nation and our collective destiny. Undoubtedly, President-Elect Muhammudu Buhari has his work cut out given the myriad of problems and challenges that assail the nation and the huge expectations that trail his endorsement across the land. However, based on his antecedents, character, experience, pronouncements, strong patriotic fervour and disposition, the President elect seems well set on an historic reshaping of our country that will alter dramatically its social, political and economic landscapes with attendant impact on how we are perceived and the way we will as a people view our own country
There cannot be much argument over the fact that weak, ineffectual and morally deficient leadership has left the country tottering on many fronts. Corruption remains deep rooted and endemic in our national life manifesting itself across several institutions of state and stifling the growth of our nation in many ways with dire consequences. In a manner reminiscent of the civil war period, our country is faced with grave security challenges – most important of which are the Boko Haram Insurgency in the North east, the ever present threat of violence and militancy in the Niger Delta and to a lesser extent a dangerous wave of kidnapping and armed robbery – all conspiring to under- mine our national aspiration of building a secure, free and prosperous nation. A fragile economic base with nearly total dependence on earnings from oil further hammered by a significant and sudden global drop in oil prices, an embarrassing level of youth unemployment that is ranked at over 80%, an extreme poverty ratio of over 60% that blights any optimistic talk and projections of economic growth – indeed social and economic infrastructures that belie and make nonsense of either our pretentions or claims of being the giant of Africa all remain key challenges for the President elect to tackle head on. Equally germane is what appears to have been an unfortunate and systematic erosion of our value systems largely instigated by a dearth in exemplary leadership resulting in the undermining of those values which we held dear as a people such as meritocracy, hard work, honesty etc. Notwithstanding the challenges aforementioned, I am very well convinced that the incoming President is well equipped, prepared and able to deploy available resources in a way that is bound to make remarkable difference over his next four year term
President Elect Buhari has demonstrated sufficiently his disdain for corruption in our national life and has made clear promises about his resolve to shoot down the monster. I have no doubt that Nigerians can hold him to that promise. Through a mix of exemplary leadership, a clear and firm indication to all political appointees of a zero tolerance for corruption, giving teeth to existing processes for preventing graft and corruption in our public institutions, strengthening institutional bodies that tackle corruption – indeed confronting the root cause of corruption and putting in place effective consequences and deterrence for corrupt practices, the scourge of corruption will certainly be seriously decapitated within the next four years
In the course of his campaign, General Buhari has also clearly affirmed that an immediate priority of his administration on assumption of office is confronting the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast. With a strong military and an antecedent of defeating a similar insurgency group, he sure has the mettle and will certainly put a quick and permanent end to the Boko Haram menace. In the same vein, with strong resolve, deftness and decisiveness compatible with his character, he will put in place or strengthen appropriate machineries and institutional frameworks for tackling the other security challenges such as the Niger Delta problem, the ugly spate of kidnappings and armed robbery with the overall consequence of a remarkable and much improved security of lives and property across the country
A man reputed for his reputation for promoting merit, I believe that he will assemble a well-qualified and effective team that will help to drive policy initiatives aimed at redressing the structural economic and deep social imbalance that has created and sustained such embarrassing gaps and inequalities in our country. In particular, we can expect sound and effective policy thrusts aimed at a vigorous diversification of the economic base with Agriculture, ICT, Manufacturing and Entertainment becoming important drivers of economic growth. Also, it is safe to expect a prudent management of available resources that cuts areas of waste – emphasising accountability and transparency, an energetic pursuit of rapid infrastructure development and poverty alleviation through a re-allocation of priorities, as well as a job creation agenda that is of course at the heart of a new economic blue-print - hopefully reducing the current untenable statistics of youth unemployment. Undoubtedly, these accomplishments will not be easily achieved, but I have confidence that the country has endorsed a leader that will galvanise effectively our collective resources, determination and overall strength for achieving these set objectives. A Buhari Presidency should expectedly radically redefine our economic and social standing in terms of availability of opportunities, infrastructure development, reduction of social inequalities, economic growth and the re-enforcement of those value systems like hard work, honesty, merit etc. that have appeared to be under threat
Yes, I look forward to a Buhari Presidency!