Virtually every Nigerian from Abia state to Zamfara state is complaining that are things moving from bad to worse in all sphere of the economy. The story is the same from the creeks of Bayelsa state to the deserts of Adamawa state, the rhetoric of mirage of change is growing loud from Ibadan the heart of Yorubaland to Sokoto, the seat of the caliphate. The messianic "government of Change" as promoted by the APC appears to have become a government of Blame and confusion.
While I sympathise with Nigerians, particularly those that sincerely believed, campaigned and stood for General(now President) Muhammadu Buhari during the electioneering period, it is in my opinion that the man, Muhammadu Buhari and his party, APC showed all the signs of unpreparedness for leadership and governance all through the electioneering and even after taking office in May 2015.
Buhari/APC Displyed Signg of Incompetence During Campaign
Firstly, a look at the APC candidate Muhammadu Buhari campaign promise basically are; Asset declaration for the President, his Vice, and his appointees; payment of N5,000 stipend to 25 million unemployed youths, elderly and disabled and free meal per day for pupils and students in public primary and secondary schools respectively; Empowerment of 740,000 graduates annually across the country, provision of 3million jobs per year etc; payment of one year post service benefit to passed out youth corps members(Corpers); Bringing back the kidnapped chibok school girls etc. The list is virtually endless and can be seen here
https://www.naij.com/473147-know-the-81-campaign-promises-of-president-buhari.html
The party presented Nigerians with a glimpse of eldorado even when it they were aware that they lack the capacity nor intellectual ability to fulfil even 10% of their promise. To mask their disability, they shielded General Buhari and Prof Osinbajo from every form of political debate. Instead, they resorted to prepared speech making in Chetham House, London(UK), and padi-padi town hall meeting where participants, who are their party sympathisers and paid agents would discuss pre-arranged questions. Participation in debate would have presented Nigeria electorates the opportunity to know "HOW they intend to achieve the utopia" when the oil price was falling like the walls of Jericho. They relegated debate that would have given Nigerians the benefit of separating campaign promises from the competence of the candidate Buhari. On March 28, 2015, fifteen million Nigerians fell for their "wish list" to thumb-print for the broom with the hope of Change.
...And Started Failing From The Day of Inauguration
After taking over office from predecessor Goodluck Jonathan, reality started dawning on Nigerians and Sai Buharists. Firstly, the adored General and the pious VP refused to publicly declare their assets. In fact, Presidential Spokesman Shehu Garba even told us to go get it from Code of Conduct Bureau. It took about three whole months before the President and his VP released a vague statement, calling it asset declaration. The funny twist is that almost NINE months of taking office, non of President Buhari's appointee has publicly declared their asset. This is in contrast to his campaign promise when he said public asset declaration will be a pre-condition for appointment.
Secondly, like an unprepared man, the President came on board and ran the show with civil servants for SIX months even when the economy was going on comatose. When asked, he echoed that cabinet ministers were noisemakers, and his fans re-echoed same sentiment. We reminded him that civil service is for policy implementation not policy-making but his supporters shouted us down. Today the controversial 2016 appropriation bill that has become a national embarrassment was majorly prepared by the civil servants that Buhari so much trust. In fact, ministers of government repeatedly denounced part of it. For face saving and in the spirit of "scapegoatism", the President fired the DG Budget Office instead of firing himself for allowing the DG Budget to work unsupervised. And by the way, we have a huge budget proposal of N6trillion for 2016, meanwhile more than 70% goes to recurrent expenditure and increased overhead in a period of economic decline. Oil price is pegged at $38 per barrel even when oil was selling under $35 per barrel as at when the budget was presented to the parliament. Where in the world does that happen?
The economy is spiralling downwards but the President in his wisdom is yet to inaugurate an Economic team to bring in immediate and long term solution. Instead, the government rely on "blame game", and prayer session in Medina, Saudi Arabia(when demons aren't responsible for the downturn).
In this our dear Nigeria, electricity has become a scarce commodity, Naira is trying to rival Zimbabwean dollar, price of commodities are shooting up, sachet water aka pure water is fast becoming a premium product selling at N20-N25 per sachet. Instead of job opportunities, thousands are losing their jobs. Very unfortunate. But what do you expect from a government and party that failed to thoroughly appreciate the challenges that we were facing as a country and pitch their promises based on reality? What do you expect from a party that made use of beautiful and colourful speeches and slogans to capture power without any defined plan on how to use power into meeting the needs of the masses? Can one give what he doesn't understand?
As for the growing numbers of disappointed Sai Buhari die-hards that allowed the love they have for the Daura born General to eclipse their sense of inquisition on what their idol is bringing to the table when/if elected, they should take heart because the deed has been done. I sympathise with Nigerians because they'll have to put up for at least three years. We in opposition shall continue to constructively criticise the government while we restructure our party in preparation for Aso Rock takeover in 2019(God sparing our lives).
May God Bless Us All and Bless Our Nigeria
While I sympathise with Nigerians, particularly those that sincerely believed, campaigned and stood for General(now President) Muhammadu Buhari during the electioneering period, it is in my opinion that the man, Muhammadu Buhari and his party, APC showed all the signs of unpreparedness for leadership and governance all through the electioneering and even after taking office in May 2015.
Buhari/APC Displyed Signg of Incompetence During Campaign
Firstly, a look at the APC candidate Muhammadu Buhari campaign promise basically are; Asset declaration for the President, his Vice, and his appointees; payment of N5,000 stipend to 25 million unemployed youths, elderly and disabled and free meal per day for pupils and students in public primary and secondary schools respectively; Empowerment of 740,000 graduates annually across the country, provision of 3million jobs per year etc; payment of one year post service benefit to passed out youth corps members(Corpers); Bringing back the kidnapped chibok school girls etc. The list is virtually endless and can be seen here
https://www.naij.com/473147-know-the-81-campaign-promises-of-president-buhari.html
The party presented Nigerians with a glimpse of eldorado even when it they were aware that they lack the capacity nor intellectual ability to fulfil even 10% of their promise. To mask their disability, they shielded General Buhari and Prof Osinbajo from every form of political debate. Instead, they resorted to prepared speech making in Chetham House, London(UK), and padi-padi town hall meeting where participants, who are their party sympathisers and paid agents would discuss pre-arranged questions. Participation in debate would have presented Nigeria electorates the opportunity to know "HOW they intend to achieve the utopia" when the oil price was falling like the walls of Jericho. They relegated debate that would have given Nigerians the benefit of separating campaign promises from the competence of the candidate Buhari. On March 28, 2015, fifteen million Nigerians fell for their "wish list" to thumb-print for the broom with the hope of Change.
...And Started Failing From The Day of Inauguration
After taking over office from predecessor Goodluck Jonathan, reality started dawning on Nigerians and Sai Buharists. Firstly, the adored General and the pious VP refused to publicly declare their assets. In fact, Presidential Spokesman Shehu Garba even told us to go get it from Code of Conduct Bureau. It took about three whole months before the President and his VP released a vague statement, calling it asset declaration. The funny twist is that almost NINE months of taking office, non of President Buhari's appointee has publicly declared their asset. This is in contrast to his campaign promise when he said public asset declaration will be a pre-condition for appointment.
Secondly, like an unprepared man, the President came on board and ran the show with civil servants for SIX months even when the economy was going on comatose. When asked, he echoed that cabinet ministers were noisemakers, and his fans re-echoed same sentiment. We reminded him that civil service is for policy implementation not policy-making but his supporters shouted us down. Today the controversial 2016 appropriation bill that has become a national embarrassment was majorly prepared by the civil servants that Buhari so much trust. In fact, ministers of government repeatedly denounced part of it. For face saving and in the spirit of "scapegoatism", the President fired the DG Budget Office instead of firing himself for allowing the DG Budget to work unsupervised. And by the way, we have a huge budget proposal of N6trillion for 2016, meanwhile more than 70% goes to recurrent expenditure and increased overhead in a period of economic decline. Oil price is pegged at $38 per barrel even when oil was selling under $35 per barrel as at when the budget was presented to the parliament. Where in the world does that happen?
The economy is spiralling downwards but the President in his wisdom is yet to inaugurate an Economic team to bring in immediate and long term solution. Instead, the government rely on "blame game", and prayer session in Medina, Saudi Arabia(when demons aren't responsible for the downturn).
In this our dear Nigeria, electricity has become a scarce commodity, Naira is trying to rival Zimbabwean dollar, price of commodities are shooting up, sachet water aka pure water is fast becoming a premium product selling at N20-N25 per sachet. Instead of job opportunities, thousands are losing their jobs. Very unfortunate. But what do you expect from a government and party that failed to thoroughly appreciate the challenges that we were facing as a country and pitch their promises based on reality? What do you expect from a party that made use of beautiful and colourful speeches and slogans to capture power without any defined plan on how to use power into meeting the needs of the masses? Can one give what he doesn't understand?
As for the growing numbers of disappointed Sai Buhari die-hards that allowed the love they have for the Daura born General to eclipse their sense of inquisition on what their idol is bringing to the table when/if elected, they should take heart because the deed has been done. I sympathise with Nigerians because they'll have to put up for at least three years. We in opposition shall continue to constructively criticise the government while we restructure our party in preparation for Aso Rock takeover in 2019(God sparing our lives).
May God Bless Us All and Bless Our Nigeria
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