A year ago, Dr. Jonathan peeped into the future. Then, 12 months was a long period. The President reeled out promises, ranging from security to improved electricity supply, good roads, provision of jobs and general welfare. To critics, the speech has now paled into a declaration of deceit. The security situation has turned worse. The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Plc has generated more darkness than light. Many roads across the federation remained death traps. The Supervising Minister of Information, Dr. Nurudeeen Muhammed, said that three million jobs have been created, but it is like a drop in the ocean, judging by the soaring number of unemployed graduates.
In his New Year broadcast, the President raised the hope of fellow countrymen, promising to make good governance his priority. Beyond promising to rejuvenate the ailing economy, President Jonathan said his administration would work assiduously to ensure that Nigerians enjoy 18 hours of uninterrupted electricity supply daily. In fact, he said that his government would boost power transmission with $1.5. “We shall boost investments in transmission to ensure power generated is properly distributed. We have mobilised an additional $1.5 billion for the upgrade of the transmission network in 2014 and beyond,” he said.
In 2013, there were complaints about the unmitigated corruption in the land. The Transparency International had listed Nigeria among the 23 most corrupt countries in the world. The disclosure dented the image of the administration. A searchlight was beamed on Nigerians travelling abroad at various airports. To halt graft and resolve the image crisis, the President said the anti-corruption fight would be re-invigorated. Many had expected an effective anti-graft curator in their President. To underscore his commitment, Dr. Jonathan informed that his administration saved N126 billion by blocking loopholes.
The President promised to create more jobs, fortify the education sector with adequate funding, secure the country and promote unity. “Our economic priorities will be stability and equitable growth, building on diverse sectors of our economy,” he added.
Other top government agencies believed the Transformation Agenda was on course. They boasted that, by December last year, the country would be counting its blessings.
Morning, it is said, shows the day. After a curious delay in the passage of the budget, the government, according to observers, wobbled on with faulty implementation. At the driver’s seat of the economy, some have argued, are voodoo economists, who are fanatically dedicated to the cause of the free market economy as dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Since government’s economic advisers often subject to the willful western dictation, the import is not lost on the beleaguered country. After strategically rebasing the economy, the government had a fairy tale to tell. To the consternation of citizens, the Finance Minister declared that Nigeria’s economy is the fastest growing in Africa. Other ministers and party chieftains clapped for the President on account of the imaginary feat. The rebased economy has no corresponding positive effects on the general wellbeing of the people, who continue to wallow in poverty and misery. In many homes, three square meals are luxury.
However, when discerning Nigerians warned that the economic ship was heading for the rock, leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) replied that the opposition was whipping up sentiments. The party read political meanings to mere economic criticisms. Elder statesman Adebisi Akande had described the Commander-in-Chief as a kindergarten President. He wondered whether he was in effective control. The former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said the Federal Government was clueless. The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, reasoned that hope may be illusory under the administration. But, he said: “If put in the hands of enlightened progressive leaders, this nation can become a fertile land of prosperity, lawfulness, peace and dignity for all us.”
The budget, in the opinion of many people, lacked facial validity. The bogus recurrent expenditure, which is at the expense of the capital expenditure, underscored wastages. The cost of governance is burdensome. In the face of budgetary fragility, the economy nose-dived. Twelve months after, power generation, transmission and distribution stand at 4,200 mega watts. It is a wide departure from the promise of a glorious dawn in January, last year. Artisans, peasants, and informal sector operators continue to spend much more on petrol and diesel for generators. The manufacturing sector is on crutches. More manufacturers closed their factories and relocated to neighbouring smaller countries. How can government create jobs when the manufacturing sector is ailing and closing shops? How can the sector break through when the cost of doing business is exorbitant? How can local industries grow when they are not protected? How can production be boosted in a country of imports and disdain for exports?
Education and health are still on their knees. Tertiary institutions are yet to fully recover from protracted university and polytechnic strikes. For many months, many did not even know that the colleges of education teachers have down tools. Although efforts have been made to jerk up teachers’ allowances, education infrastructure critical to teaching and learning are still not adequate. When medical doctors embarked on strike, many patients lost their lives.
Human rights groups have warned that the fight against corruption has become a child’s play. They allege that corrupt cases involving top government officials are being swept under the carpet. Irked by slow pace, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, cried out that the President has abandoned the anti-graft crusade. On Tuesday, pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd), said that the war against corruption is now past tense.
Since the preoccupation of those in power appear to be the quest for power retention and consolidation, more energy is devoted to preparations for the general elections. Under the Jonathan administration, Nigerians have become more divided, contrary to his avowed promise to promote national unity. A National Conference was convoked. But, the report is not out yet, confirming the fears of skeptics that it was a decoy and a jamboree.
But, most worrisome is the worsening security situation. Commercial kidnapping is on the increase. So is armed robbery. In the Northeast, two states – Yobe and Borno – have not known peace. The fear of members of the out-of-control sect is the beginning of wisdom. Towns and villages are being invaded by the terrorists, who hoist strange flags, thereby threatening national sovereignty. Almost 260 days after, the abducted Chibok girls have not been rescued. The soldiers are trying their best, according to Army authorities. But, they are handicapped by obsolete weapons. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are agonising daily as refugees in their fatherland.
According to the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), “political instability is increasing and major indicators now put Nigeria on the “Red Alert.” The group added: “We are now faced with a depressing economic outlook because of dwindling revenues, corruption, and heavily flawed and extravagant budget.”
What will be the fate of the country in this election year? Will the government have time for governance? Will the President be able to improve on his shoddy performance in the face of dwindling revenue? Will he maintain a clean break from the past? Only time – the four-letter word will tell.
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