Buhari’s New Mandate is Vigour for National Unity

Tue, Apr 2, 2019 | By publisher


Opinion

By Usman Bello Balarabe

NIGERIANS will not forget in a hurry the tragic events of the past characterized by terrible memories of horrendous attacks by insurgents in the North Eastern states; the ethno-religious crisis as well as skirmishes between farmers and herders which displaced many from their ancestral abodes.

It is therefore imperative at this time to recognize and give credit to whoever helps and preaches the promotion of national security and protection of national interest.

The re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari offers a new impetus for promotion of national understanding, in the spirit of give and take. It provides a lesson in perseverance, political tolerance and belief in the real tenets of   democracy.

In Nigeria’s democratic system, the two-term tenure remains the prime   privilege that a candidate sponsored by a political party could enjoy after a re-election to that same political office. Evidently, Buhari’s re-election bid was influenced by his popularity and commendable efforts to facilitate and ensure good governance, transparency and a corrupt free nation. However, the programmes and policies of the administration coupled with the president’s avowed commitment to due process have increased the delivery of infrastructural and social developments; promising signposts for social transformation in Nigeria.

Virtually all Nigerians now appreciate the great efforts of the Buhari administration in almost all sectors. But the most critical areas that  have received priority attention in the last four years include, but not limited to   corruption, security, and employment.

Right from inception of Nigeria, corruption has been a debilitating cankerworm, one of the major factors that has kept Nigeria’s prosperity   comatose, making the nation’s economy totter and stutter. It is evident that even during the first and second republics, corruption played a very vital role in slowing down Nigeria’s advancement. Politics was used as a lucrative game of cupidity by unpatriotic politicians who embezzled public funds for personal enrichment. The coming of the Buhari administration brought positive transformation that introduced a superior war against corruption with the collaboration of the media, civil society organizations as well as the citizens,   encouraged by the whistle blowing policy which paved way for exposing corruption and corrupt politicians.

The obnoxious inter-ethnic and communal crisis we experienced in this country is beyond description. Hundreds of innocent people were killed; thousands were made homeless, and many others were traumatized as a result of this outrageous intolerance that has seemed intractable.  The Buhari administration has tactically dealt with all of that, restored confidence,   especially among those living in the North Eastern part of Nigeria where the crisis is prevalent and the tension is dense.  The cessation of attacks and the relative peace enjoyed in the hitherto blood-soaked communities in the North hold the secret to President Buhari’s success in the last election.  He indeed deserves some accolades and commendation in appreciation of his modest achievements.

The level of unemployment has reduced drastically, hundreds of young people are now empowered and inspired to start local businesses with the intervention of the Federal Government. No one can deny the impact of intervention programs as N-Power, P-Yes, Tradermoni and the commercial agricultural scheme driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Millions of young people have benefited from these interventions and got rescued from their miserable state of poverty. In the last two years, the statistics of unemployed youths in the county has reduced to a great extent.  One can say confidently that no previous administration ever recorded such a feat in employment creation.

Nigeria is moving forward, Buhari is steering the wheel to drive Nigerians into the next level in order to get Nigeria working again.  Our collective participation and collective action remains the only way to rejuvenate Nigeria’s democracy and redefine its rotten system. Going forward, the nation now requires a national consensus on a definitive path of sustainable development.

  • Balarabe is a Kano-based journalist

– Apr. 2, 2019 @ 14:35 GMT |

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