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In recent time, there have been criticisms, debates and discussions in the media on the assessments of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government policy direction for the country in the next four years. Some criticized the appointments made so far as lopsided and ethnic bias; others accused the government of being slow in action, which earned PMB the appellation, “Baba Go Slow” an evidence of ill-preparedness for the task of governance of the most populous black African nation.
There is also a group which said the APC led government’s anti-corruption crusade is the propaganda of the electioneering campaign, forgetting that they are in power to actualize the campaign promises. At some other times, a section of Nigerians see the government lacking the proper structure of building the future Nigeria.
There is also another divide which ascribed to the government to be on the stand still, a situation where nothing seems moving forward, according to the protagonists, since on assumption of office on May 29. 2015 delay in constituting his ministerial cabinet has been an issue of great concern to Nigerians. In all these one begins to wonder whether the architects of these postulations can really understand what governance is all about. Those who do not in any way shares in the sentiment expressed above must be well acknowledged and appreciated for their due diligence and understanding of the government’s policy direction.
On the whole, the PMB led government did not want to join issues with anyone, but seriously taking his time to get on track and cruise for sustainable and enduring good governance of probity and accountability, from the quagmire of hopelessness and maladministration of the PDP led administration of sixteen years. On the other hand, PMB may not be carried away by the people’s concerns, realizing that they are anxious to reap the dividends of democracy from a government that they truly believed and voted into power.
For record purposes and posterity, the PMB led government has recorded some measure of achievements in the First 100 Days in Office, especially in the areas of foreign relations: tackling corruption; oil and gas sector reform; improve nation’s security apparatus for better performance and the reformation of the power sector, just to mention a few.
In the area of strengthening the nation’s foreign relations, after ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, the country’s foreign relations nose-dived. Interestingly, right from the inauguration, Nigeria’s foreign policy started waxing stronger; the numbers of foreign dignitaries that came to grace the inauguration ceremony was a living testimony.
Amazingly, soon after his inauguration, PMB embarked on the visits to the neighboring countries to solicit for their cooperation in tackling the dreaded “ Boko Haram insurgency” that had and was still causing incalculable damages to the Nigeria territory and; even beyond the African sub-region. The fallout of this move was the formation of a regional armed forces backed by the UN, and with the supports of other developed nations curtail scourge of the insurgency in the northeast and end the war. Also, the invitation of the President of the United States of America’s to the PMB was an evidence of great improvement to our foreign relations and many good things in stock for Nigerians.
Despite criticisms of the visit, the lifting of arms embargo for Nigeria was essentially, an issue that calls for celebration.
On the battle against corruption, the determination and commitment of the government to strengthen the rule of law and allow the administration of justice system to operate in line with their constitutional responsibilities, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies are decisions, aimed at diminishing greatly the ugly trend of corruption in the country. From the body language of PMB, it is crystal clear that the government’s zero tolerance on corruption in all sectors of the economy is a serious matter. For instance, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), apex bank, has since been directed to compel MDAs to maintain a Treasury Single Account for all government revenue sources with time line, as one sure way of checking diversion of government funds.
It is worthy of note that some of the nation’s refineries have started working after over 16 years of many times Turn Around Maintenance (TAM), that never yielded desired result. It would be recalled that the ex-President Obasanjo had once told Nigerians at the twilight of his administration that chronic oil cabal frustrated his government’s efforts at making the nation refineries to function.
On the security front, the government has strengthened the Security apparatus to be more focused for better performance. The security situation of the country has relatively improved, contrary to the insinuation that Boko Haram insurgency activities increased far more than the past administration, a fallacy that could not stand the test of a valid argument. Though the increase was acknowledged in some quarters, contrary to expectations of Nigerians, but was subsequently diminished in no time on the relocation of the Army Command Control headquarters to Maiduguri, the theatre of the war zone, an indication of the government’s preparedness to bring the insurgency under control within the shortest possible time. This decision was overwhelmingly commended nationwide and currently, it is yielding the much needed results.
Talking of the power sector reform, prior to PMB’s led government; electricity supply was in a complete mess and shamble. The epileptic nature of the power sector was quite alarming, hopeless and comatose, a development which generated a lot of protests in all nooks and crannies of the country. Not to talk of the pains and agonies the payments of the fixed charges and unpalatable privatization policy that was variously described as ‘Robbing Peter to pay Paul has brought to the teeming population of Nigerians. The government of PMB on assumption of duties took bold and constructive steps to consolidate on the efforts of the past administration and embarked on the restoration of power supply in the country that is relatively stable at the moment. Inspite of the criticisms that the present administration was taking glory of the past administration’s achievements were an after thought. The apostles of such claims have failed to understand that government is a continuous, which were part of the promises of the administration in consolidating on the previous government’s gains for the common purpose of good governance. Looking at the seriousness of this government, things are gradually falling into shapes for the progress of the country. The words of Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that. “The fear of PMB is the beginning of wisdom” becomes more relevant at this point than at any other time. The game plan has suddenly changed entirely for the good of Nigerians.
– NWUCHIOLA, A VINCENT
08051802723 / 07037596180
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