Our much expected government of change is here and after 6 months in power, there seem to be a slow progress in the war against corruption of which the president’s goodwill transcends prior to election and thereafter.
We have started experiencing critical statements from the masses tantamount to the anti-Jonathan media campaign following the handling of critical issues by the government of the day. It is the hope of majority that President Buhari turns the tide against corruption and lead Nigeria to greater heights in the shortest possible time. I therefore wish that this article gets to him and that he reads to the very end.
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In the face of critical issues such as the Igbo agitation for Biafra, Recovery of stolen funds, prosecution of the corrupt, Naira devaluation and economic growth, I have a few advice for the government of the day.
I respect the maxim which says, it is better to jaw jaw than to go to war. As Nnamdi Kanu cools off in detention, Mr. President must tread carefully. The use of force and manipulation of the Judiciary to suppress the agitation of Igbos will be counter-productive. As much as we all desire a one Nigeria, it is not worth sacrificing the lives of millions again. Our economic calamity is enough reason for our igbo brothers to join hands, participate and encourage the government of the day to sail the ship of Nigeria to safety. However, since they have decided to intensify their campaign for a separate country, the best we can do is to bring the major players to a round table. Should a round table fail to yield results, the government of the day should convene a Sovereign National Conference where the issue of our togetherness will be trashed out. What about a referendum in Igbo lands? I think a careful and humble approach should be used by the President as compromise does not imply weakness.
My second advice goes to the issue of stolen funds. It is regrettable and sad especially for the poor in Nigeria. The systemic corruption in Nigeria is a hydra headed calamity that will take time, tact and brute force to go away. When the majority of our rich men used corrupt and fraudulent means to gather so much wealth at the expense of the masses and these set of people are our national heroes, there is a problem. How did Ibrahim Babangida get so rich? How did Jimoh Ibrahim amass so much wealth? Even our famed Aliko Dangote got help from an uncle who had the “money will” of the then government.
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The use of stolen money for personal investments by our public office holders is alarming. This is evident recently as a witness against Olisa Metuh talks of how he was given N2 billion to invest. Rumors have it that many politicians invest a great deal in Aliko Dangote’s chain of businesses, a reason why he is always given special treatment in proposals and bids for contracts. It is my advice and submission that every past public office holder must be subjected to probe and investigation. Anyone found corrupt or guilty of mixing State funds with personal business must face forfeiture of all savings and assets. Such funds and assets must be taken over by the government while the culprits are sent to spend the rest of their lives in jail. Such are the measures needed to cleanse Nigeria of the filth of corruption. Some might accuse the Government of bias and selective probe, but I think any future government can respond in kind. Such will check the impunity of public office holders in their limited tenure. The urge to embezzle as much as possible or engage in questionable awarding of contracts will be reduced a great deal.
The government of the day should also set up a judicial panel to treat petitions against judges who take bribe and pervert justice. I’ll love to see our ex-CJN, Justice Aloma Muktar play a big role in this. I am surprised that President Buhari never considered her in his honest search for integrity.
I am also in doubt of the true nature of this anti-corruption war when our policemen are still on the roads forcing motorist to part with N50. I can’t still understand why the SSS is involved in the enterprise of seeking whom to extort. They are good at fishing out people with criminal intent and criminals but they do so to enrich their pockets. When the executives are corrupt, how on earth can the government fight corruption?
To de-value or not is another question of the moment. As much as I support the government not to unnecessarily devalue our currency, we must also consider the plight of Nigerians who earn foreign currencies. As a freelancer who is often paid in US dollar, the exchange rate is under N190 after a few charges are deducted. I also spend a percentage of my income on advertisement of my services, the use of my Naira MasterCard is not encouraging as I get to spend sometimes over N300/$. My income eventually is consumed by the exchange rate while I am left with little or nothing as a man who contributes positively to the economy through earning of foreign exchange. Should the naira be devalued, it will benefit many of us who earn foreign exchange. If this is not a feasible step as explained by our economists, the government should prioritize acceptance of payment through Paypal payment service.
Presently, Nigeria can only make payments for foreign products through Paypal. Paypal is the number 1 online payment processor in the world where yearly online transaction is in billions of dollars. Our online enterprise is suffering from the limitation on Nigeria. We can only spend but cannot receive. Paypal seem to understand and take Nigeria as we really are: a spending country. Nigeria stands to earn billions of Naira from online enterprises should the government demand the limitation be removed.
As we strive to improve our economy, the Bank of Industry has been below par. They are responsible for the decay in local production over the years. They have been unable to account for and make good trillions of Naira given over the years for Industrial development. The government of the day must probe BOI and revisit their negative policies if we are to make any meaningful progress. BOI must meet their TV propaganda with real results out there.
We are indeed in a difficult time as a country. I encourage Mr. President to also handle the Niger Delta with caution. It took a lot of sacrifice to put an end to Militancy. This sacrifice sadly involved pacifying and enriching the warlords albeit in the wrong way. Rather than seek punishment for the ex-warlord, we can lay the blame on the past administration that pacified him in the wrong way and seek re-evaluation of contracts without pushing for the gallows.
It is also sad to see our communities under covert siege of soldiers harassing the citizens. Tattoos on the bodies of our youths are not morally acceptable but it is unfair and against our freedom rights to be assaulted by soldiers for having tattoos.
I wish the government of the day the best in the war against corruption.
Thank You for reading.
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