Nigerians Needs Real Change

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We-are-Nigerians-Amalgamation-DocumentaryThe PDP government has failed Nigerian for the past decade and half. Nigerians does not need tinkering on the margins. We needs real change: change of orientation from decadence to real growth with equity, employment and inclusion.

Interconnections must be established among economic, social and environmental dimensions of development. Nigeria needs to invest in agriculture and agro-processing enterprises. Rampant corruption, sectarianism, cronyism and gross mismanagement of public funds must face a frontal attack, not arresting one individual for public consumption but all who have stolen the nation wealth must face the full wrath of the law. Dismissing or suspending a few police officers does not mean restoration of human rights and fundamental freedoms, there must be total reform in the Nigerian police force. We voted for change and change we must see after May 29, 2015.

PDP government has failed. Controlling inflation, important as it is, is not enough. Measuring progress in economic growth and per capita income terms is necessary but not a sufficient condition for improving living standards of all. Launching a new vision without providing a road map about its implementation, monitoring and evaluation isn’t helpful. For that reason 2020 vision died on the very day it was launched in part because the then president hadn’t seen the final version, it was a rush plan to appeal millions of Nigerians. The drafters of the vision never provided the methodology and indeed it was plan to fail.

Overemphasis of export-orientation of agricultural produce including foodstuffs has damaged the environment through de-vegetation and chemical pollution, overfishing and deforestation and reduction of food supplies in the domestic market contributing to severe under-nutrition. Poorly fed women produce underweight children with permanent physical and mental disabilities, children develop smaller brain size than normal and constrain their ability to learn and underfed adults don’t have the energy to perform optimally.

Exchange rate adjustment in favor of exports has made the price of imports very expensive for consumers and investors. Keeping inflation so low has reduced money in circulation and drove interest rates so high that few investors are able to borrow and invest. Consequently economic growth has declined considerably following exhaustion of excess capacity. Nigeria’s economy needs to grow at an average rate of 10 percent to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2020, a dream that won’t be realized.

Nigeria is well endowed in human, natural and financial resources. The problem is poor leadership. What Buhari needs is a government of all stakeholders to sort out the mess that has accumulated since 1999. Those who have helped cripple the economy of the nation must not be allowed to serve again, no matter the party they belong. Nigerians can’t afford another failed 4 years under Buhari regime.

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari must avoid the mistakes of the past of rushing to choose his cabinet ministers without knowing who they are. We should not have criminals in government again. Nigeriansare hopeful that our children unborn will see why we voted out the PDP government and be grateful for the future opportunity that will be provided to them by the Buhari regime.

Comrade Ahmed Omeiza Lukman, Kiev Ukraine.

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