Our Vision for Nigeria

When we speak of productivity, we are relating to the output that one can produce with the resources that one has. It is very easy to define productivity and relate it to several aspects of our daily lives such as the results that we may receive in exams due to sufficient preparation or the way we may prepare our meals to make sure that there is enough to go around. However, if one is to question whether Nigeria is a productive country, it may be very easy to say yes due to our high economic growth of 7.4% real GDP. Our boosting agricultural industry has helped our economy and other industries, such as our mining and quarrying industries, continue to help our economic growth rate to rise above the growth rate of several other nations worldwide. Our economic growth may come as a threat to many developed nations, but how threatened would these nations be if we had stable electricity that would definitely boost our productivity?

Nigerians are generally hard working people. Many work for longer hours and more years than the average person in a developed country and therefore it is in our nature to put work at the forefront. Regardless of the traumatic events that we experienced post-independence such as the Biafran War and the overthrowing of the government by the military on several occasions, Nigeria has pulled through thick and thin and remains Africa’s largest economy (Provost, 2014). Since 1999 when General Olusegun Obasanjo became the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Nigeria has had to heal wounds that the nation has faced since we gained Independence from Great Britain in 1960. Due to Obasanjo’s 1976-79 regime that portrayed Nigeria as the freedom fighters of Africa, many were quick to vote Obasanjo back into office. Obasanjo’s regime nationalized the British Petroleum Company and renamed it the African Petroleum Company, it also established the Bank of Commerce and Industries and supported the establishment of the second Port Harcourt refinery, Kaduna refinery and Warri refinery. Due to Obasanjo’s regime, Nigeria’s economy grew at a steady rate of 7% during the 1970’s to the early 80’s.

Things seemed different from 1999. Although Nigeria was recovering from the human rights abuses that many citizens went through under Abacha’s regime (regardless of the economic growth that came with it), Nigeria started to develop foreign-inspired reforms, hence a large amount of external influence on the nation. We have seen drastic changes take place in Nigeria in the past decade and a half such as the radical increase in oil prices per litre and although there are no doubts that Obasanjo’s 1999-2007 regime steered Nigeria in the right direction, we have established a backward way of political thinking, that has lead to the rise of corruption and the destabilization of our nation. Towards the end of Obasanjo’s time in office, Nigeria was the 55th largest economy in the world and many put their faith in Yar’Adua who unfortunately past away during his time in office. The Vice President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan took over and quite frankly, despite the boost to our agricultural industry, Nigeria has suffered under his rule. The disregard for human rights, the increase in terrorism and the failure to provide Nigerians with stable security lead to Nigerian citizens voting Jonathan out of office in 2015. Our President Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, will be starting in office at the end of May, so I speak to you about my vision for 2019.

Buhari is a dictator turned democrat to put things in the most straightforward way. As the Head of State between 1983 and 1985 after a military coup occurred that overthrew the democratically elected government of President Shagari, many people refer to Buhari’s ideologies during his time as “Buharism”. This explains the fascist, right-wing, pro-self-government that deprived many Nigerian’s of their human rights, restricted the imports of goods that the government felt were superfluous and condensed oil thefts improving exports through a counter-trade policy of trading illegal crude oil for required goods like machinery, permitting it to export above its OPEC quota. Many suffered under Buhari’s regime and after running for president three times after 1985; Buhari was democratically voted in through the APC party on his fourth attempt.

Although many are against Buhari due to the fact that he was a dictator who ruined the lives of many Nigerian’s, Buhari managed to express his support for democracy to the majority of Nigerian’s while he was campaigning. As a man that has humbled himself, Buhari contacted the Ministry of Finance asking to receive only 10% of the incumbent’s salary if he is voted in (which he was) and he also made it very clear to Nigerian’s that his anti-corruption agenda is going to change Nigeria for the better. I personally supported Buhari during the elections, as I believe that Jonathan is one of the most incapable rulers that Nigeria has ever had. Buhari may not have a clean past, but he certainly holds the key to a brighter future, not for himself, but for our country Nigeria. Buhari’s manifesto focused on corruption, insurgency, security, health, education, agriculture, the building of refineries and an inclusive economy. There is no doubt that he hit the nail on the main problems that we face in Nigeria today that we definitely need to tackle and without trying to downplay Jonathan’s manifesto, that focused on several problems such as job creation that need confronting, Jonathan has been in power for six years and Nigerians have suffered. Corruption is the root to the majority of the problems that we face in Nigeria today and one cannot confidently count on Jonathan and the PDP party to control the money that is being siphoned into the pockets of our politicians. Recently, Diezani, the first female President of OPEC stated that she “stepped on big toes” when billions of missing funds were traneed confronting, Jonathan has been in power for six years and Nigerians have suffered. Corruption is the root to the majority of the problems that we face in Nigeria today and one cannot confidently count on Jonathan and the PDP party to control the money that is being siphoned into the pockets of our politicians. Recently, Diezani, the first female President of OPEC stated that she “stepped on big toes” when billions of missing funds were traced back to her. In a country that struggles to provide the basic tools for living for all of its citizens, one cannot afford to condone the act of corruption any longer.

Many consider Buhari a hero. For the first time in Nigeria’s history, a sitting president was democratically voted out of office. Jonathan conceded defeat, avoiding an uproar, which also has to be praised because the 2015 elections have shed a light on hope and change for Nigeria. Many were beginning to doubt democracy in Nigeria due to the daily problems that Nigerian’s should not have to face anced back to her. In a country that struggles to provide the basic tools for living for all of its citizens, one cannot afford to condone the act of corruption any longer.

Many consider Buhari a hero. For the first time in Nigeria’s history, a sitting president was democratically voted out of office. Jonathan conceded defeat, avoiding an uproar, and the dirty game of politics that is played by those who make decisions on our behalf, but many have put their hope and faith in our President Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. I have a vision for Nigeria over the next four years; I do not believe that change is going to occur overnight but I do believe that things are going to get better for us all. After the elections, the Naira became stronger, which was an immediate sign of improvement for me. I do believe that the problems that we face with terrorism are going to be controlled between now and 2019 and eventually eradicated and Nigeria is going to become a more prosperous country for all. With Buhari at the forefront, I believe that politics in Nigeria is going to become more transparent, hence less corruption and more honesty and one cannot doubt that several industries in Nigeria that have not flourished yet, will boost during his time in office. With women demanding 50% representation in Buhari’s cabinet, we can already see a great movement towards gender equality, which has always been a problem in Nigeria due to religious and traditional beliefs. Furthermore, with corruption under control, funds will be used more appropriately, hence better pay for those who work for the government in sectors such as transport and security. I have a vision of better living standards for all Nigerian’s and I definitely believe that Buhari is going to create a solid grounding for the current generation of youths, hence Nigeria moving in the right direction.

Louis L’Amour once said; “To make democracy work, we must be a notion of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.” Due to the way Nigeria has been under Jonathan’s rule, many Nigerian’s were eager to stand up for themselves during the 2015 elections. Several women in Maiduguri, the hub of terrorism, faced their fears and came out to vote for change, which showed the power that Nigerian’s can have once they speak up for themselves. The outcome of the elections was definitely one to celebrate for many Nigerian’s and I can see Nigeria as a more stable, safe and better-off country four years from now. Nigerian’s have shown that they will no longer stand for mistreatment and once 2019 comes, I have no doubt that Nigerian’s will voice themselves then too. If Buhari fails us, which I highly doubt, he will be voted out as Jonathan was. If not, then one can only hope that our next President in 2023 lives up to the standards that we are expecting from General Muhammadu Buhari.

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