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My Grouse Seven points Agenda,

June 11, 2009

Although I never took this government serious from the word go, it still it amazes me how much they have worked so hard not to prove me wrong. When I disclosed my choice of presidential candidate to some friends in 2007, many thought I was being unnecessarily extreme. Nigeria is a nation blessed with action packed solution oriented people, and we have had several years of planning and visioning such that all we need to do is go out and do it!


Our present political class often get humorously academic in situations where all that is needed is implementation of existing plans and looking at Yaradua’s (I would rather not call him president)  7 point agenda confirms this story. We have been moving in an unending circular drive since 2007 and no one seems to point out that we may pass out because of dizziness.

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First Yaradua promised to declare a state of emergency in the power sector but till now he hasn’t got enough energy to declare such ‘difficult’ statement. From the 3000 megawatts left by the last government, the nation has plunged more into darkness. My Chinese generator takes at least 15% of my income every month in addition to spurious payment I have to cough out to PHCN for supplying cables without Power. The latest is the report that the epileptic power supply in Nigeria contributes significantly to Malaria deaths in Nigeria Yearly! How callous of a group of people who claim to have our interest at heart. In the past few months many dirty can of worms revealing thieves who have plundered the funds meant to reawake the energy sector have been opened, the question is our present judicial system ready to deal with these ‘Big Rat’ decisively?

On education, we seem to have completely lost it has a nation. You need to go back to your Alma-Mata and you will weep for your beloved country! In my case, I was  dumbfounded to discover that the quality of students who now call themsevelves Law students have systematically reduced, many cannot even conveniently converse in English and yet they are expected to champion your course in the theatre of justice, unbelievable! The administration of the schools including the governing board (Council) are now manned by people who cannot make any positive decision that affect the quality of delivery in the classrooms. And they think we are all deceived by the structure poorly planned and given to friends’ and cronies to execute. Can someone tell them the buildings don’t make the mind!

All over the country private universities have taken over and the government officials who are expected to hype the quality of education have their wards in schools all over the UK, what a waste of a nation. Primary education has been abandoned and their teacher hastened to heaven where they expect to get reward for building the Nation!

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Unemployment in on the increase, no thanks to the moribund power and infrastructural decay in the country. Any business still thriving in Nigeria deserves perseverance awards, the Dunlops and Michelins could not stand the heat and the government in Abuja can’t be bordered. Battling crime is not all about harming the police force; the idle hand in Nigeria is the Devils factory! Hundreds of thousands of graduate roam the street looking for a way to assure ‘Garri’ and the few available jobs are taken over by children of the privilege who schooled abroad regardless of grades or personality. The Niger Delta crisis is a living testimony of the failure of this present administration, from agitation to full scale war, Yaradua has to throw in the towel.

Rule Law; anytime I hear the word being used by any government functionaries these days I feel robbed. It’s just another ‘Sec 308’ designed to create an escape route from hideous crimes committed in the name of governance. The phrase has been abused in the most hilariously malicious manner by this dispensation. The Ekiti saga is still fresh on my mind, apart from the fact that I hail from Ekiti, the fact that the people of my Local Government; Ido-Osi were denied of their result still makes my heart ache. The PDP Chairman from Ido-Ekiti couldn’t even get votes for Oni in his ward! How inhuman are we to ourselves in this nation. Yet the sluggish captain keeps whispering rule of Law as an achievement of his government. I wonder whether rule of law can buy rice in Oyingbo market.
It is no doubt that the standard of Living of an average Nigerian is dropping and the opulence in Abuja is not dwindling. We are not deceived by reduction in their allowances we know how they make up for it. Do they even spend this money? The present structure in governance is too lucrative for them to border about such reductions. I need not say more.

Finally, I will magnanimously give this government 8-10% on performance at least the military has not taken over. The government will have to start delivering on its promises to the masses if anyone will take them serious. It is obvious that the international community has less regard for this government especially has it has shoed less interest in the fight against corruption which is the main enemy of the Nation.

Yaradua should please shape up or shape out, we the Nigerians are tired of his patently incurable inability to deliver on the ill conceived and obviously improperly advised 7 point “endangers”
Adesuyi A.A. writes from Lagos.

 

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