PMB, it’s time to make a choice: Lead us or give chance

2016 was a hard year for Nigeria. All the pillars of our nationhood were tested and most were found wanting. Some collapsed; some were seriously weakened, while others were desecrated. We are talking about the presidency, economy, and most importantly, the people. We acknowledge the fact that it has been a tough year for leaders […]

2016 was a hard year for Nigeria. All the pillars of our nationhood were tested and most were found wanting. Some collapsed; some were seriously weakened, while others were desecrated.

We are talking about the presidency, economy, and most importantly, the people. We acknowledge the fact that it has been a tough year for leaders across the world – what with global economic upheavals and terrorists wreaking havoc everywhere.

However, we reject the almost slow-moving and slackness with which your government has responded to our economy crises this past year. We need not recount the number of lives lost, the losses incurred by businesses and opportunities wasted for millions of Nigerians due to the ineffectiveness of the policies.

With the exception of a few family businesses and tender-preneurs who raked in millions of Naira – thanks largely to political patronage, everyone is losing money in this country.

The nation is brewing losses instead of creating wealth. Companies are sending workers home to stay afloat, while small businesses are shutting down mainly because of Executive myopia.

The youths have been experiencing difficulties in gaining employment both in the public and private sectors. The people losing jobs are joining millions of desperate youth who have never known a job, despite having an education. This growing army of disgruntled youth and middle-aged people pose a grave risk to the country which, unfortunately, the government seems to understate.

The country today is crying for action, practical measures to guarantee the citizens that the government has been seized of their concerns.

The populace has resigned to fate with little hope that President Buhari will take them from the abysmal hopelessness. The level of poverty is evident, compounded by insecurity and bad health. The people are frustrated, disappointed and keenly looking whether the practice of democracy is a way out of the economic and social stagnation.

Instead of providing this leadership, PMB and its aides – Ministers, the Cabinet, Reps and Senators have adopted a default campaign mode of regaling the public with tales of largesse to come.

Two years is a long time to live on hope. On more than one occasion PMB has addressed the nation and promised to fix the fundamentals of statehood once and for all. However, nothing has come of it.

These half-measures are harming your authority and popularity as the president, besides tormenting Nigerians. Among other challenges, it creates an impression of a reluctant leader, one who enjoys the trappings of roving but is not ready to get the work done.

Worse, it suggests that you are being held captive by some forces you cannot disentangle yourself from. You swore to uphold the national good, Mr President, what is it that is holding you hostage?

We all support the presidency as the symbol of national unity. However, we will not sit back and cheer when the very pillar of nationhood – the economy threatens its very sustenance. For close to two years, you have been declaring your turpitude on rooftops; it is now time to pounce.

There comes a time when the rhetoric must stop and some work gets done. We challenge Mr President, to walk the talk of executive probity and nationhood this year.

Ahmed Abdulrahman, Kaduna.