Buhari’s 2019 bid and matters arising
By it, 7.5 million children are served free meals in schools. This has improved school attendance. Two hundred thousand graduates are now enrolled in N-Power, and 300,000 have just passed screening in the biggest, most audacious employment scheme on the continent. Our youths have a lot of ideas and many who need support, mentoring and […]
By it, 7.5 million children are served free meals in schools. This has improved school attendance. Two hundred thousand graduates are now enrolled in N-Power, and 300,000 have just passed screening in the biggest, most audacious employment scheme on the continent. Our youths have a lot of ideas and many who need support, mentoring and guidance under the various schemes under the Social Investment Programme of the government are getting help.
Three years on, the economy has seen a paradigm shift with agriculture getting a pride of place. We are importing 90 percent less rice than we did three years back. The World Bank has certified Nigeria as being one of the top ten most improved economies in the world. Power ministry has done commendably well, raising generation from an average of 2,600 megawatts to 7,500 mw.
Today, each state has a minimum of between one to five federal roads under construction or reconstruction. Some have as many as eight or nine. The legendary second Niger Bridge is by now 44 percent complete, putting to shame the many years of platitude and lies by several past administrations.
With the advent of the Buhari administration, foreign policy has become robust. Nigerian enjoys a good reputation in West Africa, Africa and the world.
What this government is doing is different and the results are showing, for example:
– Reversing the decline which began in 2014 and stabilizing the economy for Nigerians.
– Recovery of stolen national assets.
– Economic restructuring for the growth of private sector as the best solution to unemployment.
-Demonstrable infrastructure improvement: roads, power and energy
-Re-establishment of collaborative working relationship between the President and the Vice President as model of how Northern/Southern, Muslim/Christian, Older/Younger Nigerians can and should work together.
The thing about Second Term in all political climes is that voters must have a practical reason to vote for someone. President Buhari has not given anyone an excuse not to choose him on this count. His is an administration that has something for everyone.
The party did extremely well in the North to come to power and every indication is that in 2019, it will do in the South, what it did in the North in 2015.
By the way, did anyone notice the poll on who to choose in 2019 by a young man, Mark Essien @markessien on Twitter? Buhari supporters need to read that to cheer up!
Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity)