The Real Meaning of Change APC Promised Nigerians
\nThe word CHANGE means so many things to so many people. According to
\nOxford Advanced Learner\u2019s Dictionary, change means to make or become
\ndifferent. It means to make somebody or something different, to pass from
\none state to another. Change means to replace one thing, person, service
\netc with something new or different. Change means to exchange position or
\nplaces with someone else. Change means changing into something, to put on
\ndifferent clothes or clean clothes. You can change money, goods, bed etc.
\nMoney can change hands. You can change plane, bus or train. You can go
\nfrom one bus or train to another just to continue your journey. I can go
\non and on.
\nBefore the 2015 general elections, APC promised Nigerians a change from
\nthe old order to the new order. It was a promise to do things differently,
\na promise to move away from being a consumer of anything in sight produced
\nabroad to producer a nation, a promise to put structures in place to make
\ncorruption look unattractive, a promise to enforce attitudinal change, a
\npromise to change Nigeria\u2019s cause of history, a promise to make Nigeria to
\nmove away from a generator driven economy to stable power supply, a
\npromise to look inwards, a promise to look at state of our infrastructure
\nand do something tangible about it if Nigeria must be a destination, a
\npromise to create jobs, a promise to feed ourselves and export food, a
\npromise to provide security for lives and property etc.
\nThroughout history I have always known that change is not an event but a
\nprocess. It takes time to effect a serious change in a country like
\nNigeria, driven by greed and avaricious tendencies of few people in
\nposition of authority. As I write this, I hear that Nigeria economy is now
\nofficially in recession. For me it is not unexpected given what APC
\ngovernment inherited from PDP after 16years, the glut in the oil industry
\nand the activities of militants in the Niger Delta region. One is not
\ngiving excuses here because real leaders do not bemoan problems, they
\naddress problems frontally. A school of thought tells me that \u201cA dream
\ndoes not become reality through magic, it takes sweat, determination and
\nhardwork\u201d
\nI am seeing the change when those who stole billions in both local and
\nforeign currencies are returning the loot with frightening speed. I am
\nseeing change when I see 400billion naira being invested in infrastructure
\nthis year when only 17 billion naira was slated for the same project in
\n2015 by the PDP. I see change when eleven States are investing heavily in
\nRice production to reduce the huge foreign exchange expended in the
\nmassive importation of rice. I can see the real change as Nigeria is
\ngradually moving away from dependence in petro-dollars to diversifying the
\neconomy to have multiple streams of income. I am seeing the real change in
\nthe power sector as government is no longer tied to the gas-driven power
\nplants and gas supplies from the Niger Delta region. Government has been
\ncompelled to look beyond gas-driven plants to solar stations, thermal
\nstations, nuclear power stations, wind power, hydro-power, coal-powered
\nstations etc from other parts of Nigeria. We are gradually moving away
\nfrom dependence of Niger Delta oil and gas to other sources of Revenue. I
\nhave seen Nigerians adjusting to a better life style that will help
\nNigeria to grow. Nigerians no longer flood the streets of our cities with
\ncars for pleasure. Nigerians no longer travel to London, America, Dubai
\nand other countries to stage parties and play with their friends.
\nMulti-billionaires of yesterday are now bankrupt just 16 months after
\ntheir PDP lost power, which proves to you automatically that their wealth
\nis artificial and fraudulent. The Federal, States, and LGAs are now
\nadjusting to the new reality in Nigeria that proves to even the deaf and
\nthe dumb that it is not business as usual. Those who have kids studying
\nabroad know the pains they are going through including this writer. What
\nis happening to parents will force all of us to support this government to
\nbegin the process of rebuilding our institutions. This is the real change
\nAPC promised.
\nFor the first time in the history of Nigeria, I have seen Nigerians
\ndrinking less imported South African, Spanish, American and Asian spirits
\nand wines. I have seen Nigerians consuming less South African Apples and
\ngrapes that cost this country billion of dollars every year to import. In
\nfact I hear that Nigeria has joined the club of the biggest wine consuming
\nnation\u2019s in the world. Now Nigerians are thinking. Thanks for APC Change
\nmantra and the condition that forced us to adjust.
\nToday the emphasis is on agriculture and other mineral resources. I have
\nalso seen monumental changes in the area of security of lives and
\nproperty. We may not be there yet but I see hope. The Boko Haram, the
\nNiger Delta terrorists and pockets of other trouble makers are seeing the
\nhandwriting on the wall. They now know that when superior force meets a
\nlocal force, the local power bows to superior power.
\nNigeria is getting better and this I know even though it is coming in the
\nmidst of pains and tears. Through dint of hardwork and commitment this
\ncountry will rise again. What President Buhari needs is support and
\nencouragement.
\nJoe Igbokwe
\nLagos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Real Meaning of Change APC Promised Nigerians The word CHANGE means so many things to so many people. According to Oxford Advanced Learner\u2019s Dictionary, change means to make or…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n