Nigeria: A country of woes

Rather than improve upon the already bad socio-economic situation in the country, things have continued to worsen under Jonathan’s presidency. Each time you switch on a radio or television set, most of what come as news headlines are far from giving you any happiness. Pages of newspapers are similarly full of stories about corruption charges […]

Rather than improve upon the already bad socio-economic situation in the country, things have continued to worsen under Jonathan’s presidency. Each time you switch on a radio or television set, most of what come as news headlines are far from giving you any happiness. Pages of newspapers are similarly full of stories about corruption charges against public officers; sponsored ethno-religious advertorials; war threats; notices of warning or indefinite strike action by teachers, lecturers, doctors or other professionals; outbreak of preventable diseases; rape cases; kidnappings; disasters caused by sharp practices in the aviation and construction industries; mass failure in national examinations; and many other inexcusable woes.
Every sector today stinks in Nigeria. Politicians and political office holders see public office today as an avenue to pilfer from public treasury. The power sector remains a major sink-hole used by government to loot billions of dollars of public funds. With all the resources which government claims to have spent, stable electricity supply is still an illusion in Nigeria. With the prioritization of education in the budget, schools are not anything better than eye-sores. Universities have become centers of jaggedness and irregularities; with academic rot at its height. Students “purchase” examination grades from lecturers as they are also compelled to buy handouts or books that are not worth the huge sums paid.
The oil industry is one corrupt sector with no match in the scale of fraud that goes on there. As one of the sacred cows of Jonathan’s regime, the minister of petroleum resources supervises the executive corruption that takes place in the industry. If you consider this comment outrageous, ask Mr. President to release the White Paper of the Report of Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force.  A situation where government does not know the actual quantity of crude drilled or lifted by Shell and other oil companies in the country is not only embarrassing but equally detrimental to the economy. While Jonathan finds pleasure in setting up one presidential panel or committee after the other, he avoids releasing White Papers of such reports even when they are submitted to him.
The agricultural sector which has the potentials of revolutionizing the economy of this country has continued to suffer neglect. It has the capacity of reducing poverty and providing employment to a large percentage of Nigerians. Yet, government has over these years remained indifferent to the revitalization of agricultural resources. Maybe, agriculture which is the preoccupation of the general population of northern Nigeria is perceived as a northern affair and therefore must not receive attention. Governors of northern states have also not helped matters by their refusal to invest or support investment in the agricultural sector.
Jonathan’s administration is obviously the most wasteful regime in Nigeria’s economic history.  Amount in trillions of naira is appropriated annually in the budget with nothing to show for it. We have a failed government under President Jonathan that cannot even implement budget, which performance has consistently been poor. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) recently said it collected N5 Trillion tax in 2012. Yet, this does not reflect in the living conditions of Nigerians. Unemployment rate is still as high it has always been. Fiscal policies of government make it the only key player in the economy; thereby making the business environment harsh for the survival of small and medium scale entrepreneurs.
Last Wednesday May 29, 2013 was Democracy Day. It was observed as a public holiday in the country to commemorate 14 years of unimpeded democratic governance in Nigeria. But which democracy are we really talking about? Do we call it democracy when Mr. President (who should have serious matters of national interest and importance to keep him busy) interferes in the internal political affairs of a state in the federation as he did in his home state, Bayelsa; and is now doing in Rivers State? Only a president without focus, mission, vision, wisdom, and conscience would go to the length that Jonathan is going in his witch-hunt of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state.
With all the noise that preceded Democracy Day, the much acclaimed score-card of Jonathan’s administration presented on the occasion was as empty as space. The desperation at the occasion by the Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to white wash the regime with “eloquence” failed to redeem the battered image of government because the achievements that would have eased her job at the occasion are not actually there.
Almost 18 months after Nigerians were deceived and dragged into further economic predicaments by Jonathan’s politics of fuel subsidy; all the government officials that preached the gospel of subsidy are no longer heard today as suffering, destitution, deprivation and hardships take their toll on Nigerians. May Allah (SWT) take Nigeria out of its present woes created by corruption and bad governance, amin.
Condolence:
As we mourn General Mamman Kontagora who died last Thursday in Abuja and buried in Kontagora, we pray that Allah (SWT) grants him eternal forgiveness and mercy, amin.