Democracy day: Nigerians have Buhari to thank

 

It is no gainsaying the fact that before the election of President MuhammaduBuhari as the President and Commander in chief of the Federal republic of Nigeria, one of the country’s major challenge had been the issue of leadership. Nigeria’s leadership question had been boosted by the general lack of will power by our past leaders to do the right thing. Now, the last one year of determined, focused, and deliberate character to succeed as a leader has seen President Muhammadu Buhariperforming tremendously well above what others could not find the will to do. In view of the foregoing, a careful assessment of what Nigeria has stood to gain during the past one year could be penciled down among, but not limited to, the followings.

One good thing about this all important item in the group of President Muhammadu Buhari’s accomplishments is the controversy surrounding the defeat of the insurgents in the north east axis of our zonal divide. The situation Mr. President met on the ground as regards the fight with the terrorists was, to say the least, very pitiable. The Nigerian army so underfunded and ill equipped to engage in a serious battle as demanded by the sophistication of the terrorists was already in disarray and void of good morale. Like it is popularly said that a bad workman quarrels with his tools, there was already a heightened disaffection and disillusionment among and within the fighting soldiers. There was accusation and counter accusation of betrayal of trust and mutiny among the officers and men of the forces.

So, it was a task for the President to first, put the army in proper shape before launching out for a full scale war against the then better formational terrorist fighters. Yet, Nigerians never put these facts into consideration before concluding on their judgments. Being an exceptionally gallant soldier, President MuhammaduBuhari set about his grand plan to defeat the terrorists by choosing one of the best generals as the Army Chief of Staff. The result is that, in just one year, if not less than, if we go by the right calculations, the Boko Haram insurgency has become a thing of the past in Nigeria. The Internally displaced Persons (IDPs) have been relocated to their homes; and have reconstructed on their new lives.

We also have to consider the fact that the implementation of the treasury Single account, although came with its teething challenges, as a matter of new policy in the system, has ensured the presence of a regular system in the nation’s accounting and transparency processes.

Closely related to the above is the apparent job opportunities that are springing up in most public places. Jobs are now being publicly advertised for qualified candidates and individuals to seek equal opportunities for employment. The military, paramilitary and police have duly advertised for job seekers to apply.

President Muhammadu Buhari has delivered on restoring the Nigerian socio- cultural psyche which was brutally bruised in the last dispensation. Gradually Nigerians have come to appreciate the orderliness which the government of President Muhammadu Buhari brings on board. Nigeria citizens have consciously begun to adapt to the high stake discipline of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) era of the then head of state General Muhammadu Buhari. The virtue of that disciplinary enterprise which was brutally dislocated from the people by his ouster in 1985 was a big blow to the discipline life of our citizenry who must be kept in the momentum of good virtues for a good time to imbibe. So, the personality of President Muhammadu Buhari has a charm in itself because of the high level of discipline he had cultivated by his profession and personality.

Closely related to the above are the gains and successes of the fight against corruption. This is one area almost every Nigerian thought he would make a joker of himself because it is assumed that "all have sinned and come short of glory". It is believed that every other Nigerian is corrupt or bears corrupt tendencies. As true as this could be, it is not every Nigerian that has had the opportunity to serve in government circles. As much as what happens in the public domain could stand for itself, those who have been trusted with government enterprise have been answering for their actions, inactions, and responsibilities under this regime. President Buhari made it an open business that whosoever has report or information of any corrupt public officer should broach his government with the facts and details for action. Right now, the fight against corruption is succeeding and Nigerians are seeing the result by the day.

This administration came at the heels of a drastic fall of the dollar- a signification of a global trend of bad economy. Unfortunately, critics failed to interpret these variables very properly. With great economic enterprise and calculations, the fear that this government would be forced to devalue the naira has been dispelled. This is one step to countering the threat of inflation. It would only take the heart of a President like Muhammadu Buhari to take a position of vehemence in the face of a congregated western economic conspiracy against the third world- mostly Africa- for a leader to be so positively minded and guided for the economy of his nation; unlike some others who would very quickly succumb to the easy way out, despite the cost to their citizen

The singular deregulation blow which President Buhari introduced to the system to deal with the cabal who have been holding the nation hostage in the oil sector has once and for all settled the problem of oil sabotage in the country.

More so, Nigeria’s image in the comity of nations has received a great boost regarding his determination to recover looted funds. One good signal this has sent across the international community is that not all Nigerians are corrupt and certainly not all Nigerians support corruption.

It could also be seen that most state governors have leveled up in the payment of the salaries of their works cutesy of the bailout fund provided by President Muhammadu Buhari. That singular act of Mr. President showcased him as a leader with concern and sensitive heart for the citizenry.

Nigerians are, therefore enjoined to accord this man of history and great plans for the nation the needed support to encourage him to do more for the country.

Engr. Olabode Longe, Managing Director SIFED NIG. Ltd- Petroleum Engineering Services- is an Engineer and expert in the oil and gas industry writesfrom Lagos.