By Jerome Mario Utomi
With the 2019 general election over, and the intrigues that surrounded the out-of-the-ordinary election of the 9th Assembly principal officers rested, Nigerians are now collectively in the enlightened national interest, faced with a greater responsibility of delivering the nation from the snares of dangerous political and socioeconomic delusions-via sincere contributions.
There is no doubt that assisting President Mohammadu Buhari with useful roadmaps to the next level is most desirable now. There is nationwide consensus that though he tried his best, his first term was wantonly characterized by insecurity, poor strategy for development, bureaucracy, lack of focus on sectors that will improve the condition of living of citizens such as education, health and agriculture. This, consequently led to the affirmation of Nigeria as the world poverty capital. Analysts believe that this has its root in the administration’s constant blame of others for failed projects and inability to live up to expectation.
To therefore straddle the middle ground and bring a democracy that guarantees social justice and promote social mobility, Mr. President must urgently take action in the appointment of public officials. He should also strengthen the economy, tackle insecurity, nation restructuring, sanitize the petroleum industry, job creation, development of the power sector and massive infrastructural development.
It is said that the first responsibility of a leader is to find the right people as the key to the success of every administration depends to a greater extent on the quality of people in charge. The need for Mr. President to find Nigerians, irrespective of party affiliations, to help stimulate economic growth, will sustain stability and encourage investments. In turn, it creates wealth, without necessarily recycling the out gone members. This is imperative as attempting to engineer prosperity with the same structures that created failures will translate to a mere waste of time.
Mr. President must recognize that the first opinion that is formed of a leader’s intelligence, according to Niccolo Machiavelli, is based on the quality of men he has around him. When they are competent and loyal, he can always be considered wise. But when they are otherwise, the ruler is always open to adverse criticism; because his first mistake has been in the choice of his ministers.
More important is the need to base all appointments on the provision that clearly stipulates that the Federal Character Commission must ensure the equitable distribution among federating units of all appointments and positions.
On security, the President must first redesign the security architecture of the country as it is obvious that some of the strategies are no longer working. No doubt, by the time different people begin to seek ways of protecting themselves and taking the protection of their lives into their own hands, it could lead to anarchy, which will not be good for the country. Even if it means changing personnel and re-jigging the security apparatus, then, it needs to be done because it determines the corporate existence of the nation.
Also, finding solution to the societal problems vis-a-vis youth unemployment and developing a climate of sustainable future is of urgent importance. It is no longer news that unemployment has diverse implications. Security wise, large unemployed youth population is a threat to the security of the few that are employed. Any transformation agenda that does not have job creation at the centre of its programme will take Nigeria nowhere.
Youths challenge cuts across regions, religion, and tribe, and have led to the proliferation of ethnic militia as well as youth restiveness across the country. This may, in turn, hamper the peace needed, if handled with levity. It is only by engaging youths through employment creation that the incessant youth restiveness can be abated.
About the nation’s restructuring, if there is a common denominator for restructuring, it is that broad segments of the nation feel justifiably marginalized.
The south-south claim continued deprivation and blight from oil pollution, despite being the hub for the nation’s oil wealth. The south-east legitimately gripes that nothing will change the history of the Igbo being divested of their properties and wealth after the war and being handed only twenty pounds each; and that fifty-six years after independence, the Nigerian presidency continue to elude Ndigbo.
Going by this reality, it calls for the development of political will that transcends rhetoric to finding answers and soon too to this nagging challenge. Admittedly, if the nation is restructured, it will not, as being speculated in some quarters, bring hatred or acrimony among the federating states. It will neither bring impunity nor dehumanization of men by men.
