ON PRESIDENT BUHARI’S FIRST YEAR MINISTERIAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW RETREAT SPEECH, AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
September 11, 2020 | News
Looking President Muhammadu Buhari’s First Year Ministerial Performance Review Retreat speech recently, all I can see is the usual rhetoric, overexaggerated and self-praising of a Government that claims to understand the plight and sufferings of Nigerians.
ON PRESIDENT BUHARI’S FIRST YEAR MINISTERIAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW RETREAT SPEECH, AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
Looking President Muhammadu Buhari’s First Year Ministerial Performance Review Retreat speech recently, all I can see is the usual rhetoric, overexaggerated and self-praising of a Government that claims to understand the plight and sufferings of Nigerians, which they largely caused and brought on the people, but is clearly seen to be completely out of touch, and has no idea of how to change the ugly narrative in the polity. Also, and most importantly, it shows how unwilling the Buhari-led APC Government of the day, are not ready to make any SACRIFICE on their part as custodians of our collective wealth, in ameliorating the hardship Nigerians are being faced in the present economic situation. That in it itself, should tell everyone that this present Government would only want Nigerians to go through the hard times, while they continue to live in affluence and enjoy the fringe benefits of their public office. As such, they will never understand what Nigerians are going through.
Evidently, the said speech and the review of Buhari’s Cabinet’s performance, is far below what was expected of this administration of APC in my own opinion. If, according to President Buhari, the priorities they set for themselves were around “nine inter-related and inter-connected areas, which are: stabilizing the economy; achieving agriculture and food security; attaining energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products; improving transportation and other infrastructure; driving industrialization with a special focus on SMEs; expanding access to quality education, affordable healthcare and productivity of Nigerians; enhancing social inclusion by scaling up social investments; as well as building a system to fight corruption, improve governance and strengthen national security. Can they in all honestly, beat their chest and say that they have done well, and that majority of the Nigerian people livelihood and living standards have improved? I seriously do not think so! And majority of Nigerian masses can attest to this fact.
All that talk about “recovery from a recession and we witnessed increased in GDP growth from 0.8% in 2017 to 2.2% in 2019, but declined in the first quarter of 2020, as a result of the downward trend in global economic activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” does not mean anything to the Nigerians on the street because what matters is, where are we right now as a nation? What has this Government done to improve the economic lives of the masses? And what are the prospects, and where is the country heading to? Also, blaming the lapses in the economy on the global pandemic, is the Government shifting the blame and not taking responsibilities of how things have turned out presently. Agreed that it is a difficult time globally due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but this Government’s decision to increase fuel pump price and increase electricity tariffs, is an action of a Government that is completely out of touch with the sad economic experience of majority of Nigerians. This will not only inflict more injuries on the masses, but it also shows that it was done without any consideration to the deplorable plight of the common man.
The Justification by some political analyst that the increase of fuel pump price is justified because few Nigerians were cheating the nation in the so-called fuel subsidy regime. And that often times, they are paid for what is not supplied at all. But the question is, who was supposed to be responsible in checking the activities of these people that were said to be cheating on the nation through the fuel subsidy regime? Sadly, it is the same government officials who collude with these people, and who are to be blamed for this, are still part of the Federal Government of the day. That is till today, no one has been jailed for the atrocities committed against the nation under the so-called fuel subsidy regime. It is the duty of the Federal Government of the day to check all of these anomalies in the system. And that is why the appointment of ‘credible people’ are required.
If, according to President Buhari, that as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, “The economy contracted by -6.1 per cent in the second quarter of this year; normal schooling has been disrupted; businesses are struggling and in certain instances completely closed; many people have lost their jobs and earning a living has been difficult. It has been a trying time for all of us and particularly for those in the informal sector who make their living from daily earnings” – the question is, what level of sacrifice and commitment have been demonstrated by the Buhari-led APC administration, which includes those in the Federal and State Government levels; to show that ‘we are all in this struggle together’? What exactly have they done, especially those at the National Assembly, in drastically reducing their salaries and recurrent expenditure for example, to show to Nigerians that they understand the plight of the people, and they are willing to bear the burden of the global economic down tone?
If, according to President Buhari: “Our revenues have fallen by almost 60%.” Why would they still sustain the same expenditures, especially on their huge salaries/bonuses, as if all is well in the economy? If they claim to have “acted to mitigate the effect of the economic slowdown by adopting an Economic Sustainability Plan, and have also had to take some difficult decisions to stop unsustainable practices that were weighing the economy down”, they should tell Nigerians what exactly have they stopped on their part, to suggest to Nigerians that they are willing to also make some sacrifices in the present economic situation in the country? Nigerians would really like to know what level of sacrifice and actions have they taken to help to reduce the economic burden we are facing and its spill-over effect on the masses? They cannot expect Nigerians to ADJUST to the present harsh economic realities in the country, yet they have continued to live large at the expense of our national collective wealth, as if nothing has happened? That is not ‘leadership by example.’
I am not the only Nigerian who think that there are certain actions that have to be carried by this Government in the present economic situation, for Nigerians to take them seriously. They cannot be making life more difficult for Nigerians, and expect them to adjust, while they want to continue with their affluent lifestyles and practices in the name of doing Government work. It is also sad and worrisome to note that little or practically nothing was said about the insecurity situation in the places like Southern Kaduna, where local communities are still under sieged by the wicked and evil activities of armed bandits who are under the guise of herdsmen and insurgents. Are the lives of those lost there not important? What actions has the Government taken to issue a query those kept in charge of the security of this nation?
In a recent Tweet by Reno Omokri, he listed what Muhammadu Buhari should do instead of hiking fuel pump price and electricity cost in the country. These are: “Sell the 10 Presidential Jets he promised to sell in 2015; Reduce his aids and their Salaries; Completely ban foreign healthcare for public officials; Stop sponsoring pilgrimage to Mecca/Jerusalem; Truly fight corruption; Don’t give Abacha loot to state governors. Give it to the masses; Reduce his N3.5Billion feeding/travel budget; Stop borrowing indiscriminately; Use the money he is using to rehabilitate repentant Boko Haram insurgents, to economically rehabilitate law abiding Nigerian citizens.
It is high time for the Nigerian Government at all levels to look beyond paper qualifications and party affiliations to start getting ‘credible persons’ with the right attitude and innovative prowess, to be appointed in sensitive public offices. For instance, I really do not know what the likes of Mr. Godswill Akpabio is still doing in the Government of the day? Though, all the blame is not on only Buhari, the people are also guilty of electing ‘DISHONORABLE PUBLIC OFFICERS’ at all levels of the Legislature and Executive Arms of Government.
The President's Cabinet, Advisers, Aides and other politically appointed public officers, are not telling President Buhari the truth about the harsh ‘realities’ in the polity. They are ready to tell him anything just to keep their jobs, and be in his good books. But on his own, one expects Buhari to ask the common masses, starting with his community locals, to know the truth about the situation in the country, to know what needs to be done differently. People are hungry all over the country. From the core North, North Central, South-West, South-East, to the South-South. The power sector is far worst in this administration. There is more poverty now everywhere. The exchange rates of the Naira to other foreign currencies are far higher than what they were before Buhari took over Government. But rather than take full responsibility and take actions to address the situation, this Government is known for shifting the blames on others.
As far as I am concerned, the President does not need a Ministerial retreat to understand what has been happening, and to fix the country. In my own opinion, the said ministerial retreat is just another merriment jamboree. We all know that every Minister report to him through the Secretary of the Federation. And the President meets with the Ministers during the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings. So, what exactly are they hoping to achieve with the said Ministerial retreat? The President has the privilege to ask them to brief him in such FEC meetings. Getting the right people with conscience and right frame of mind as the Cabinet members, is what the president urgently needs to do. And not carrying out appointments that is evidently based on sentiments. I have said my own piece.
Zik Gbemre.
September 11, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
Looking President Muhammadu Buhari’s First Year Ministerial Performance Review Retreat speech recently, all I can see is the usual rhetoric, overexaggerated and self-praising of a Government that claims to understand the plight and sufferings of Nigerians, which they largely caused and brought on the people, but is clearly seen to be completely out of touch, and has no idea of how to change the ugly narrative in the polity. Also, and most importantly, it shows how unwilling the Buhari-led APC Government of the day, are not ready to make any SACRIFICE on their part as custodians of our collective wealth, in ameliorating the hardship Nigerians are being faced in the present economic situation. That in it itself, should tell everyone that this present Government would only want Nigerians to go through the hard times, while they continue to live in affluence and enjoy the fringe benefits of their public office. As such, they will never understand what Nigerians are going through.
Evidently, the said speech and the review of Buhari’s Cabinet’s performance, is far below what was expected of this administration of APC in my own opinion. If, according to President Buhari, the priorities they set for themselves were around “nine inter-related and inter-connected areas, which are: stabilizing the economy; achieving agriculture and food security; attaining energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products; improving transportation and other infrastructure; driving industrialization with a special focus on SMEs; expanding access to quality education, affordable healthcare and productivity of Nigerians; enhancing social inclusion by scaling up social investments; as well as building a system to fight corruption, improve governance and strengthen national security. Can they in all honestly, beat their chest and say that they have done well, and that majority of the Nigerian people livelihood and living standards have improved? I seriously do not think so! And majority of Nigerian masses can attest to this fact.
All that talk about “recovery from a recession and we witnessed increased in GDP growth from 0.8% in 2017 to 2.2% in 2019, but declined in the first quarter of 2020, as a result of the downward trend in global economic activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” does not mean anything to the Nigerians on the street because what matters is, where are we right now as a nation? What has this Government done to improve the economic lives of the masses? And what are the prospects, and where is the country heading to? Also, blaming the lapses in the economy on the global pandemic, is the Government shifting the blame and not taking responsibilities of how things have turned out presently. Agreed that it is a difficult time globally due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but this Government’s decision to increase fuel pump price and increase electricity tariffs, is an action of a Government that is completely out of touch with the sad economic experience of majority of Nigerians. This will not only inflict more injuries on the masses, but it also shows that it was done without any consideration to the deplorable plight of the common man.
The Justification by some political analyst that the increase of fuel pump price is justified because few Nigerians were cheating the nation in the so-called fuel subsidy regime. And that often times, they are paid for what is not supplied at all. But the question is, who was supposed to be responsible in checking the activities of these people that were said to be cheating on the nation through the fuel subsidy regime? Sadly, it is the same government officials who collude with these people, and who are to be blamed for this, are still part of the Federal Government of the day. That is till today, no one has been jailed for the atrocities committed against the nation under the so-called fuel subsidy regime. It is the duty of the Federal Government of the day to check all of these anomalies in the system. And that is why the appointment of ‘credible people’ are required.
If, according to President Buhari, that as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, “The economy contracted by -6.1 per cent in the second quarter of this year; normal schooling has been disrupted; businesses are struggling and in certain instances completely closed; many people have lost their jobs and earning a living has been difficult. It has been a trying time for all of us and particularly for those in the informal sector who make their living from daily earnings” – the question is, what level of sacrifice and commitment have been demonstrated by the Buhari-led APC administration, which includes those in the Federal and State Government levels; to show that ‘we are all in this struggle together’? What exactly have they done, especially those at the National Assembly, in drastically reducing their salaries and recurrent expenditure for example, to show to Nigerians that they understand the plight of the people, and they are willing to bear the burden of the global economic down tone?
If, according to President Buhari: “Our revenues have fallen by almost 60%.” Why would they still sustain the same expenditures, especially on their huge salaries/bonuses, as if all is well in the economy? If they claim to have “acted to mitigate the effect of the economic slowdown by adopting an Economic Sustainability Plan, and have also had to take some difficult decisions to stop unsustainable practices that were weighing the economy down”, they should tell Nigerians what exactly have they stopped on their part, to suggest to Nigerians that they are willing to also make some sacrifices in the present economic situation in the country? Nigerians would really like to know what level of sacrifice and actions have they taken to help to reduce the economic burden we are facing and its spill-over effect on the masses? They cannot expect Nigerians to ADJUST to the present harsh economic realities in the country, yet they have continued to live large at the expense of our national collective wealth, as if nothing has happened? That is not ‘leadership by example.’
I am not the only Nigerian who think that there are certain actions that have to be carried by this Government in the present economic situation, for Nigerians to take them seriously. They cannot be making life more difficult for Nigerians, and expect them to adjust, while they want to continue with their affluent lifestyles and practices in the name of doing Government work. It is also sad and worrisome to note that little or practically nothing was said about the insecurity situation in the places like Southern Kaduna, where local communities are still under sieged by the wicked and evil activities of armed bandits who are under the guise of herdsmen and insurgents. Are the lives of those lost there not important? What actions has the Government taken to issue a query those kept in charge of the security of this nation?
In a recent Tweet by Reno Omokri, he listed what Muhammadu Buhari should do instead of hiking fuel pump price and electricity cost in the country. These are: “Sell the 10 Presidential Jets he promised to sell in 2015; Reduce his aids and their Salaries; Completely ban foreign healthcare for public officials; Stop sponsoring pilgrimage to Mecca/Jerusalem; Truly fight corruption; Don’t give Abacha loot to state governors. Give it to the masses; Reduce his N3.5Billion feeding/travel budget; Stop borrowing indiscriminately; Use the money he is using to rehabilitate repentant Boko Haram insurgents, to economically rehabilitate law abiding Nigerian citizens.
It is high time for the Nigerian Government at all levels to look beyond paper qualifications and party affiliations to start getting ‘credible persons’ with the right attitude and innovative prowess, to be appointed in sensitive public offices. For instance, I really do not know what the likes of Mr. Godswill Akpabio is still doing in the Government of the day? Though, all the blame is not on only Buhari, the people are also guilty of electing ‘DISHONORABLE PUBLIC OFFICERS’ at all levels of the Legislature and Executive Arms of Government.
The President's Cabinet, Advisers, Aides and other politically appointed public officers, are not telling President Buhari the truth about the harsh ‘realities’ in the polity. They are ready to tell him anything just to keep their jobs, and be in his good books. But on his own, one expects Buhari to ask the common masses, starting with his community locals, to know the truth about the situation in the country, to know what needs to be done differently. People are hungry all over the country. From the core North, North Central, South-West, South-East, to the South-South. The power sector is far worst in this administration. There is more poverty now everywhere. The exchange rates of the Naira to other foreign currencies are far higher than what they were before Buhari took over Government. But rather than take full responsibility and take actions to address the situation, this Government is known for shifting the blames on others.
As far as I am concerned, the President does not need a Ministerial retreat to understand what has been happening, and to fix the country. In my own opinion, the said ministerial retreat is just another merriment jamboree. We all know that every Minister report to him through the Secretary of the Federation. And the President meets with the Ministers during the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings. So, what exactly are they hoping to achieve with the said Ministerial retreat? The President has the privilege to ask them to brief him in such FEC meetings. Getting the right people with conscience and right frame of mind as the Cabinet members, is what the president urgently needs to do. And not carrying out appointments that is evidently based on sentiments. I have said my own piece.
Zik Gbemre.
September 11, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes