GOVERNMENT AND ITS CHALLENGES IN 2017: THE WAY FOWARD

APC LEADERS

There is an ominous danger in the nation. There is anger, disappointment, apprehension, hunger and fears of the unknown in the land.

Is the government of the day failing? Questions are asked daily but government and its officials are unable to provide quality answers that would assuage the minds and fears of the people. 

Many who had hitherto supported the All Progressive Congress in the 2015 general elections which ousted the Goodluck Jonathan led-government of the PDP have continuously expressed their disappointment and misgivings with the Buhari administration.

This is especially so as it pertains to the economy and matters bordering on security of lives and property of the people and nation.

There are great expectations from the Buhari led administration in the New Year (2017) which is just some few hours away and NAIJNEWSALERT sought the views of some Nigerians as to what should be the focus of President Muhammadu Buhari in the New Year.

President Muhammadu Buhari has performed far below expectations in all spheres of leadership and this is so sad.

This was the assertion of Sagir Yunusa, a concerned stakeholder who says he staked his credibility and integrity before his friends with the belief that a Buhari administration would deliver Nigeria from the misrule of past administrations.

As Sagir puts it, the President has performed abysmally below expectations by not heeding to advice and constructive criticisms from either the opposition or his close associates.

Impunity, corruption, injustice and disregard to known norms have helped to further plunge the county down the precipice of recession and insecurity.

President Muhammadu Buhari should majorly focus on security and the economy.  Issues such as security to lives and property of the citizenry is not negotiable as it is a responsibility of government to provide these to the people it leads.

This government is only good at is propaganda, deceit and division of the people against one another.

Several promises made by the APC government have been left unfulfilled and presently, the promise by the FG to give 5% of recovered loots to whistle blowers is not a good move.

“Who are the whistle blowers and who are they blowing whistle on? One must be mindful of what you promise. Are there adequate checks put in place to see that the proposal is not abused?

Aderinton Oyewole, a public commentator could not contain his anger over the decision of the government that “5% of any recovered loot, would be given to any whistle blower” with useful information. That decision is one that would bring about abuse, vendetta and witch hunting.

When will this administration settle down to true governance? Oyewole asked.

“Many petitions were raised against some of the close allies of Mr. President but sadly so, nothing came out of those petitions. Instead, the Presidency had always been quick to come to the defence of his aides”.

Reports of financial impropriety were reported against the SGF, the Army Chief of Staff, the Minister of Petroleum and even the Chief of Staff to the President is not spared. The list is endless.

Unless Buhari changes his approach to fighting corruption, this administration has and will remain on the wrong side of the people. This is a fact. Aderinton stressed.

Soni Akoji, a Public Affairs Analyst sees the issue of 5% payment for whistle blowers as not a good move.

“5% for whistle blowers in my own opinion is not a good move because it has the potential of abuse”. With the present divide in the polity based on political differences, religious beliefs and sentiments, there is no doubt that many would take undue advantage of the government’s proposal to do mischief”.

The major focus of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017 should majorly be on Power, Energy, Agriculture, Education and Health in no particular arrangement, Akoji stated.

For Hajia Saratu Iya Aliyu, National Chairman of CONSCCIMA when tasked by NAIJNEWSALERT reveals thus; “I am in support of the FG’s plan to give 5% of recovered loot to whistle blowers but this however must be done correctly so it does not create more problems”.

The fight against corruption must be supported by all well meaning Nigerians and if the Federal Government believes this is a way to expose corrupt persons in the society, there should be measures that must be put in place to ensure that it is not abused.

According to Hajia Aliyu, corruption must be combated and if possible, eradicated but the way and manner it is confronted, counts. The agencies of government saddled with tackling this menace must be transparent, fair and just.

On 2017 and how the President is expected to reposition the economy of the country which has been on the low, Saratu Aliyu believes that Muhammadu Buhari as President of the nation should focus more on the economic recovery of Nigeria.

As she puts it, Nigerians are suffering and the earlier that the government realizes that there is an urgent need to engage versatile hands to salvage the economy and its management, the better for all.

First of all, there is the need to invest in infrastructural development and in doing this; the private sector must be drafted in to play its own role. Many of the developed nations are driven by the private sector and this country cannot be an exception.

The business climate should be given due consideration as there are too many bottlenecks. Of this is the issue of multiple taxations being presently raised in some quarters by members of the business community. If this issue is appropriately addressed, it would ameliorate the problems of unemployment.

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the country must be encouraged through the provision of facilities which should be made available to these category of investors.

Another point that must be considered, according to Hajia Saratu Aliyu, is the agricultural sector which can effectively support the finances of the country. Agriculture must be concentrated upon as a people that are hungry, reflects the economic wellbeing of the nation. Go around the country, prices of foodstuffs have sky-rocketed above the reach of the common man. As it is today, everybody is scared of what awaits us in the New Year (2017) is quite scary.