In a matter of days, this turbulent year will go to bed. Nigerians, in this piece by MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, express their views about the dying year and their assessment of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.
Depending on which side of the divide they belong, Nigerians are already passing judgements on the performance of Jonathan Administration in this outgoing year. Also, stakeholders are beaming a searchlight on the performance of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
People’s perception about the administration in the year began when they woke up on January 1 to the stupefying reality of an increase in the pump prices of petroleum products.
Of course, the authorities might have expected some rebuffs. But little did they envisage the massive reactions it attracted, which held the country down for days. From south to east, north to west, Nigerians, in utter exasperation, trooped out to have government reverse the “anti-masses” decision, which catapulted the fuel pump price of from N65 to N140.
After gruelling days of sleeping in the streets over the matter, the people won for themselves what many termed as Pyrrhic victory. Unfolding developments that followed that decision opened another can of worms: an enquiry into the oil and gas sector which revealed corrupt deals of unimaginable magnitude.
The probe led to the beaming of the searchlight to other government departments. This has largely informed the opinions in many quarters that the administration has not lived to its electoral promises in terms of judicious use of tax payers’ money.
Another parameter for Nigerians’ assessment of the administration in the year is the worrisome state of security. The chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, is among the deeply worried Nigerians over the insecurity that has for months now, remained on the high side.
While assessing the out-going year vis-à-vis the general performance of the administration, he described Jonathan’s performance as marginal. “This administration has only given a marginal account of itself; all the problems he listed to be tackled during electioneering campaigns are still very much there. There is now the prevalence of hunger in the land; the security situation has not improved and there is high-scale corruption among government agencies,” he said.
To the former Kaduna State governor, although the probes in some ailing sector have unveiled the dirty deals going on in many departments, those probes are not different from those put in place by previous administrations. Reason: There has not been any decisive punishment for those indicted.
Balarabe may not be wrong after all. For instance, in the enquiry into the oil and gas sector, billions of naira were discovered to have gone down the drain as petroleum marketers claim subsidies for the products they never supplied. Unfortunately, some key members of the House of Representatives, whose mandate was to scrutinise the involvement of those mentioned by the probe, were equally caught in the web.
To former President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Mr Olasupo Ojo, the probe is nothing but a wild goose chase. He contended that whatever government was doing in the name of fighting corruption would not lead anywhere because it was not being done genuinely.
Also, to Ojo, government has been insensitive to people’s plight as it had not cared whether the people had something to eat or not. He noted that a government which earmarked over a billion naira for breakfast and lunch in its budget could not be bothered whether the people went to bed on empty stomach or not. He said those in power are obsessed with gluttony while people bear the brunt of taxation.
Ojo lamented that government could no longer think about people’s welfare because the seat of power had become an avenue for merry making, thus leaving helpless Nigerians to bear the consequences of their inactions.
He said: “Government has failed in all departments and its programmes and policies don’t have human face. It has let the people down when it matters most with harsh economic implication forced down people’s throats.”
Equally disturbed by the awry turn of events in the country is former Secretary General, National Union of Petroleum Employees and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori. He reflected on the orgy of corruption perpetuated by those entrusted with the leadership in the country, submitting that “the whole situation is amusing.”
He contended that the present administration has no capacity to fight corruption because it was not well-positioned to do so. He stressed that the probes set up to look into the activities of corrupt government officials and departments were mere shadow chasing because nothing concrete would come out of it.
His words: “There is this rumour making the rounds that Jonathan is very corrupt; therefore, corruption cannot tackle corruption. If you are corrupt, you will be afraid to tackle corruption. The late General Murtala Mohammed was able to tackle corruption within the six months of his leadership because he was not corrupt.
“General Yakubu Gowon was not corrupt, but did not fight corruption because those around him were corrupt. Alhaji Shehu Shagari was not corrupt, but those around him were. General Muhammadu Buhari was not corrupt. General Ibrahim Babangida was very corrupt and paid deaf ears to the fight against corruption. The late General Sani Abacha went nuclear with corruption as his family was involved in high-scale looting.”
The former labour activist noted that the heart-rending looting of public fund drew the ire of international community as Nigeria was seen as the dumpsite of corruption during the military era.
To him, despite the confidence that Nigerians reposed in ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Ota farmer could not tackle corruption headlong.
He further lamented: “Government stealing from the national coffers has left the people suffering; it has heightened the rate of crime because of youth restiveness due to lack of jobs, and this has exacerbated the security situation in the country. This administration has shown that it lacks the capacity to confront these challenges; this has further cast a dent on the government’s image.”
However, some analysts believe that the Jonathan Administration is on course. They opined that his administration inherited, and has almost been overwhelmed by crippling forces.
For instance, the government’s probe and trial of those who swindled the N32 billion Pension Fund; the smooth conduct of Edo and Ondo governorship elections this year, and getting NNPC and PPPRA to return over one trillion naira into government purse are being cited as a pointer government’s genuine effort to give credible leadership.
Chief Femi Alafe-Aluko, a governorship aspirant in Osun State in 2011 under the PDP gave an insight into the administration efforts. “President Jonathan has succeeded in keeping Nigeria one, despite all odds. Jonathan means well for the country, but honestly, he really has to do more,” he said.
Many are quick to point at the governorship elections that were held in Edo and Ondo states as one of Jonathan’s cardinal achievements. But some believe that it was because the people were really out to defend their votes against any machination that gave room for electoral normalcy in both states.
Balarabe, for instance, said it was a balance of terror that really played out. “In the areas where PDP was defeated, it was not because the election was given a free hand by government; it was because there was balance of terror.”
The Jonathan Administration has always beaten its chest that every vote in Nigeria will count at any election. This forms the basis of ongoing reforms in the nation’s electoral process.
Kokori, while commending the President on the electoral success recorded so far, remarked that the ‘one man, one vote’ regime should be extended to the entire Southsouth, where he believes the ruling party had not completely allowed the people to make their choice.
He said: “The ‘one man one vote’ is eventually catching up and I commend Jonathan for this, but he should allow it to be extended to the other Southsouth areas where election has not been free. The people of Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states need to have free and fair elections.”
Analysts also believe the highest number of avoidable deaths among defenceless Nigerians has been recorded under this administration this year than any previous government. The refusal of Boko Haram sect, which often claimed responsibility for the killings, and the group’s readiness to open possible negotiation with government, portray the administration in bad light Many said it lacked the tact to instil peace in the polity.
The people are now used to hearing of bomb blasts and nobody seems to feel concerned each time the news of bombing is announced in any part of the country. And government is fond of promising to deal with the perpetrators. A federal legislator, Bamidele Faparusi, who represents Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East Constituency in the House of Representatives put it succinctly: “The administration lacks direction on all fronts. Majority of the people are not feeling the impact of governance; rather, they are getting death through bombs from Boko Haram as gifts.
“There is no index to show that there is genuine effort to reduce the problems facing Nigerians because there is evidence of complacency on the part of those who rule; this is rather sad for the country. The government must show its genuine commitment to rebuilding Nigeria in the coming year. Nigeria, to say the least, is in dire need of sanity.”
The late foremost educationist, Dr. Tai Solarin, if alive now, would weep his heart out in view of the festering rot in the system, so one of his loyal apostles told The Nation on Monday. He is the national coordinator of National Problems and Solution (NPS), a non-governmental pressure group, Dr. Wale Omole.
Omole, also the Chief Executive of T&S Hospital, Lagos, said: “Nigeria is deep in trouble. The present administration is practically confused; it is at a loss for what to do to salvage the situation. Look at the condition of our youths; look at the state of things in all sectors of the nation’s life; all these things call for emergency attention by any serious government. Government must wake up and act. Nigerians are on the precipice. It is time government put in vantage positions, those who have the genuine interest of Nigeria and its people at heart. It is long overdue.”
To worsen matters, natural disasters have increased the emergency challenges confronting the government. The surging of the oceanic and river beds put additional burden on government. Most farmlands were swept away and homes submerged, rendering thousands homeless across the country.
Now, another new year beckons. Are the country and its constituents going to inherit the woes of 2012? This is the poser begging for urgent answer. The President has beaten his chest that he would do better in the coming year. Now, the nation waits to know if it is yet another case of empty promise.
