Its almost a year to the day Nigerians trooped out to vote, almost a year
when Nigerians stood determinedly under the sun and in the rain to send
out what we regarded as an incompetent and underperforming government. On
that day last year we opted for change and the APC thus came to power.
Personally, my greatest joy about that election was the fact that
Nigerians sent a clear message to its political leaders especially at the
centre that if you don’t perform, the people would vote you out. It was in
2015 that the Nigerian people realised their true power.
The change plane took off to a very wonderful start until it hit a strong
turbulencce and since then, to be very candid, it has not been a smooth
flight. The famed body language increase in power and fix to the economy
has gone with the wind. Now the honeymoon is over and reality has set in
and we ask the very important question, what is really happening to
Nigeria?
To this very important question, I honestly have no answer, we all know
change cannot be sudden, it is a gradual process and it can only be
achieved with a lot of patience and perseverance but when the people
waiting are left to wait for too long, they begin to wonder.
In the words of Charles Kettering, the world hates change but yet it is
the only thing that has brought growth, the government I believe is trying
its best for at least we no longer watch in horror how people are accused
of stealing billions and yet walk freely daring us to do our worst or how
Boko Haram members took over local government areas, hoisting flags and
daring the army to take them down if they can.
The incessant fuel scarcities that has been rocking the nation is really
sad, we are one of the biggest crude oil producers in the world and yet
vehicles queue up in long lines for fuel to buy at rates higher than the
official price is, the constant promises from the NNPC of “wetting” the
country with petrol have failed. A long term solution should be looked at
to end this menance once and for all, if our refineries cannot produce
fuel to meet foreign demand at least they should be worked on to meet
local demand, a lot of man hours are lost daily at this stations. An
already weak economy needs all its people to be on deck working day and
night to lift the country and not to queue up at stations.
Baba, so i have to tell you these things so you remember that the common
man on whose endless chants of “sai baba” you rode to victory is still
waiting for the el dorado you promised;
My dear “Sai Baami”, my “Sai Baba”, we understand your disdain for
corruption and we also cannot stand the level of sleaze, high level
sleaze, that have occurred and are still occuring in high and low places,
we know you are determined to teach those people who have dipped their
hands in the national till and those who ate our “yams” a big lesson and
we are on the sidelines cheering you on, but while at it sir, remember
other sectors need your attention and urgently too. Sir, if you can take
care of power alone and solve the problems that have bedevilled that
sector since indepedence, you would forever reign in my heart and I am
sure same would happen in the hearts of other Nigerians. The recent
national blackouts and increase in electricity tarriff amounts to
tightening the nooze around our already bent necks.
Baba, the cost of doing business in Nigeria is too high and this is not
helping small and even big businesses, the cost of providing diesel and
fuel to run our generators is almost driving us out of business, our small
profits that should go into taking care of our loved ones and expanding
our business to generate more employment for Nigerians is ploughed back
into fuelling generators, Baba this cannot continue. This amongst other
things are the problems facing our businesses but just solve power first.
Baba, Fulani herdsmen have gone on the rampage, killing and maiming
people, grazing crops of farmers and leaving destruction in their wake,
these herdsmen and their excesses have gone on for too long, the killings
has to stop, a final solution has to be found and real quick sir. If
herdsmen destroy our crops all in the name of feeding their cattle how are
we then going to eat? the rural people who are most affected, how are they
going to survive? The Agatu massacre is another example of the sheer
brutality of these herdsmen. Their blatant disregard for law and order and
lack of respect for human lives can no longer be tolerated.
Baba, your reaction to these killings by the herdsmen leaves much to be
desired, more can be done by your office to stop these barbaric acts. Most
of these farmers take loans to assist them in financing their farms and
waking up to see herdsmen entering their farms to plunder their crops can
be very heart rending. Baba you have to find these harbingers of death and
deal with them before they finish us.
Baba, Woodrow Wilson once said, “if you want to make enemies, try to
change something”, I am not surprised that different saboteurs have arisen
both in and out of government to frustrate our change, the budget padding,
pipeline vandalism et al are perfect examples but Baba you are our no
nonsense sheriff, we voted you because we know you are a strict
disciplinarian, if there are saboteurs in government or anywhere in
Nigeria we do not want you to complain to us, we want you to go after
them, the buck stops at your table and we would absolutely love it if
these people who do not want us to progress, who do not want us to be the
giant of Africa we truly are to be disgraced and shown the way to Kirikiri
or Kuje prisons.
The redeployment of civil servants found culpable in the budget padding
fiasco was too soft a punishment, almost like a slap in the wrist. I was
expecting more severe punishment to serve as a deterrent.
Baba, we have heard sidetalk by some members of your party and we have
also read in the papers persons in the party claim that you have not
distributed the spoils of victory well enough, that you have favored a
particular group or a set of people. Baba if these people would not help
in bringing our change quick enough do not appoint them to any government
agency. All change is not growth as all movement is not forward and if
there are people already appointed who you feel are not doing the right
thing, I sincerely urge you to shun party considerations or any
consideration of any kind and show them the way out quickly. You must
begin to show the world that we are a nation in a hurry, the lethargy of
the past one year has to stop.
Baba, a lot of unpatriotic citizens are waiting for you to fail, waiting
to tell us and I dare say they are already sneering and telling us that
believed in you “I told you so”, “shey you don dey enjoy your change”?. I
find citizens who indulge in this behaviour rather silly for although
everyone is entitled to their opinions, that entitlement has to be
exercised with all sense of decency and in the spirit of patriotism.
It is rather sad that some Nigerians can pray that the government fails
just to score cheap points. As Nigerians we owe it to ourselves to support
our country always irrespective of what party is in power, criticisms are
welcome and pointing out the wrongs of the government is highly
appreciated but wishing the government to fail and screaming excitedly
when poilcy decisions go wrong is sheer irresponsibility.
Baba, you have been jetting round the globe visiting Europe, the Middle
East and also neighbouring countries here in Africa. We understand your
visit to the Middle East was to pray and also talk with fellow OPEC
members on how to find solutions to the low oil prices, Baba this is good
but then you have to concentrate on the holy grail of all pasts
governments in Nigeria which is a true diversification of the Nigerian
economy. We must accept the realities of the current situation, the era of
quick easy petrodollars is gone. You and your economic team must sit down
and bring out innovative ideas on carrrying out a true diversification of
our economy. It is innovation that distinguishes a leader and a follower.
To the APC, when you jump for joy beware that no one pulls the ground from
beneath your feet. I enjoin them to put Baba on his toes all the time and
keep reminding him of his promises to Nigerians. Baba and also the party
came to power with enormous goodwill and love same as the previous
administration, it will do you people much good not to fritter away the
goodwill like the last administration did. Nigerians are very impatient
people and you cannot blame them for we have suffered long enough.
Lastly to Nigerians, I will recall the words of William Arthur Ward
“change like sunshine can be a friend or a foe, a blessing or a curse and
a dawn or a dusk”. I hope and pray in all honesty for this change that is
almost a year old now to be a friend, a blessing and a dawn for a new
Nigeria. We are getting tired of waiting.
Adekanle Laide Damola is a Lawyer and writes from Akure and can be reached
at laidedamola@gmail.com.