Has anything really changed in Nigeria under President Buhari?

Shaibu Stephen Ojate

By Shaibu Stephen Ojate

The Nigerian political atmosphere has been clouded with all manner of praises and commendations on President Buhari’s fight against corruption and also his resolves to bring corrupt public officials to book.

Many have adjudged President Buhari’s administration as one good thing that has happened in the history of Nigeria. These pundits posited that even if this is the only thing President Buhari could do in his four years term in office, they would be very grateful and applaud him. They have consistently maintained that President Buhari is the only President in the history of Nigeria who has taken anti-corruption fight to a higher level.

Also, the opposition on their part maintained that President Buhari’s fight against corruption is selective adding that he was just after his perceived enemies rather than make it encompassing.

The debate on whether President Buhari is on the right tract or not on the anti-corruption fight crusade is not my concern in this article but my focus is taking a look at the ‘unique change’ President Buhari promised Nigerians in the last general election tallying it up to what is on ground.

I de-emphasized talking on anti-corruption crusade because President Buhari is not the first Nigerian President to have started it. Former President Obasanjo initiated war against corruption by establishing ‘Economic and Financial Crime Commission’ (EFCC) and also happened to be the first leader  in Nigeria that entrenched anti-corruption crusade in our political life which had led to the prosecution of high profile personalities such like former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Bologun, serving Governor Joseph Dariye and host of others. 

Obasanjo’s fight against corruption led to the recovery of looted fund amounting to Billions of Naira from corrupt public officials in Nigeria. Obasanjo’s giant step to track looted fund in abroad led to the repatriation of late General Sani Abacha’s looted in Swiss Bank to Nigeria amounting to Millions of Dollars.

Whilst Obasanjo fought corrupt public officials during his time, he did not stop at that as he gave Nigerian people improvement in our telecommunication sector which brought about the use of mobile Hand-set (GSM) as we use today. Whilst Obasanjo pursue corrupt public officials, he restructured the state of our economy that brought about cancellation of some of our Nigeria foreign debt at the International financial body. Whilst Obasanjo fought corruption, he laid good ground for Nigerian people as Nigeria had good saving in the excess crude oil account.

 In view of this, whatever President Buhari is doing today is building on the structure and legacy of former President Olusegun Obasanjo under Peoples Democratic Party’s regime and such he is not any way making any unique changes in the country which calls for unnecessary commendations and applause.

 The tactics former President Obasanjo employed then is what President Buhari is equally adopting today, focusing the anti-corruption war at his perceived enemies and on this note, i will not waste my time to join talk with those who unnecessarily shower unnecessary encomium on President Buhari saying he is doing wonder in the land to the extent of counting it as an achievement. President Buhari anti-corruption fight is a normal thing in Nigeria and nothing new.

Recall that the Presidential Candidate of All Progressive Congress, General Buhari as was called then while campaigning gave Nigerians ray of hope promising to improve the state of our economy, cut down unnecessary spending by government officials and nips to the board the serial bomb blast in the country orchestrated by Boko Haram insurgency.  

To show his displeasure on how last administration ruined Nigeria, he openly condemned former President Jonathan stance in having not less than 12 Presidential fleets and the billions of Naira expended in maintaining the Jets saying such are uncalled for. On this note, he pledged to downside the number of jets in Presidential fleet and promising to convert some to float Nigerian National Carrier for the benefit of all Nigerians if elected.

President Buhari equally demonised the Peoples Democratic Party led government then saying the idea of having the office of the first Lady was uncalled noting that when elected, his Wife’s duty shall be purely normal house wife and the idea of making her to be seen as first lady or indirectly acting the roles of first lady in the public would not be entertained.

Also, President Buhari told Nigeria on how he shall strengthen the economy of the country promising to stabilise Nigerian crude oil price in the International Market and strengthening the value of Naira against Dollar. President Buhari promised to make his asset public and also urge his Ministers to do same. 

His party, All Progressive Congress on their part promised that their government shall give out N5000 stipends to all unemployed Nigerians which shall come inform of social incentive aimed at empowering unemployed Youths in Nigeria.

Alas, President Buhari and his Vice on getting to office announced fifty percent cut in their basic salaries and directed the office of the secretary General of the federation to implement same across board even when he had not nominated anyone as the Secretary of the Federation then. President Buhari gave this directive when he was not even empowered by laws to cut salaries of the legislative body.

President Buhari resolves to make Nigeria works was called for questioning after exhausting 100 days in office and retorted that  he never target any achievement within that period. His take was further collaborate by his party who disclosed that 100 days in office is too short to appraise President’s capacity to turn things around stressing further that the Cabinet Ministers have not been nominated then.

The Party pointed out that President Buhari was still working with the last administration’s budget noting that Nigerians can appraise All Progressive Congress led government better when they forwarded 2016 National Budget to the National Assembly. Many Nigerians who frowned at President Buhari at this time had course to reason with him on this assertion saying he will best rated when the Budget is forwarded to the national Assembly.

It then took President Buhari more than 5 Months to gather the names of his cabinet Minister which were all later confirmed and since commenced official activities. Also, the long awaited All Progressive Congress ‘Change Budget’ was finally presented to the National Assembly towards the end of last December.

As we entered 2016 and the content of the Nigerian National Budget made known to public, it now becomes expedient for Nigerians to appraise President Buhari’s regime better. As some people posited that it is too early to judge President Buhari government going by short time spent so far, i want to make counter case here using an adage in Ebira native language which says ‘a hunting dog who shall kill an Antelope, Lion and Elephant is best known through its’ limb’ .

 As the adage goes, President Buhari‘s pledges to make Nigeria better can be best seen or evaluated through the little thing he is doing. If President Buhari shall make Nigeria another Dubai in Africa, he needs to start from somewhere. Nigerians need to start sensing that through the positive government policy and the content items in 2016  Budget of changes and not rhetoric Nigerians were made to hear since the last eight months he got inaugurated. 

To evaluate President Buhari better in this article, we need to take a look at the 2015 National Budget under President Jonathan and comparing it to the content of 2016 Budget under President Buhari. Feeding in Aso Rock gulfs N7Billion under Jonathan and N1.7Billion under President Buhari. Aso Rock Villa which got renovated barely 8moths ago has got N3.9 Billions of Naira in 2016 Budget. Aso Rock Villa’s Clinic and website maintenance got N4.8Billions. Office of the National Security Adviser and Ministry of Communication were given high prominent in President Buhari’s regime to what was given to Power, Steel and Agriculture Ministry. This implies more money shall go for unnecessary items which will not in anyway add any value to the life of common man in the street as was the case under Jonathan.

The present 2016 Budget of change gave little attention to Steel Ministry and no assurance that the present APC led-government is committed to diversify Nigerian economy as President Buhari promised before the general election. Thus, there was no fund ear-marked for the resuscitation of Ajaokuta steel and Itakpe Iron Ore Company both situated in Kogi State. 

President Buhari’s Budget of Change did not ear-mark fund for the building of any new refineries and yet the total sum of the National Budget sum-up to N6Trillion. Though, pantry sum of Billions have been ear-marked for areas that needed urgent attention of Nigerian people. The overall interpretation of the National Budget implies that large chunk of fund will go into issues that have little or no significance to the life of common man just like before.

The fund allocated to the renovation of Aso Rock and feeding in Presidential Villa are very good examples. The President did not indicated in 2016 Budget that the 12 Jets under Presidential fleets would be downside and fund converted to finance some aspect of our National Budget. He is still allocated Billions for their maintenance.  President Buhari’s Wife is reported to have moved into the office of the first Lady under President Jonathan and has since been moving from one area to the other performing semblance of first lady’s roles even though he never addressed himself as such.

 The government of the day has not formulated policy aimed at reducing the cost of food stuff in the market. The bags of rice which goes for N10, 000 under Jonathan now sells for N13, 000. Naira exchange rate to Dollar which goes for N230 under Jonathan now goes for N300 under President Buhari.  More Bank charges have come up under Buhari’s regime and Nigerians have been forcefully mandated to pay N50 as postage stamp on every bank transaction even though one does not engage in any that calls for postage stamp. Quoting ‘Ruben Abati, Nigerian Banks have become branches on Nigerian Post Office. Zenith Bank now becomes Zenith Postal Centre, Union Bank Becomes Union Postal Centre etc.’ Yesterday, newspaper reported that more taxes ahead and this implies more hardship await Nigerians. By the time all these unnecessary taxes are implemented, the take-home pay of the workers or income any individual would be rubbished due to one bank charges and taxes.

More companies in Nigeria are winding up due to poor economic policy of President Buhari led government compounded by high rate of Dollar against Naira which presently stood at N300. People who are indebted to others in a business transaction could not pay and all complaining of no fund. Many Business shops in Kubwa Abuja are completely empty and landlords in months ago are anxiously looking for people to rent them and all due to unfavourable economic condition in the country under President Buhari.

 Nothing has really changed and it is still business as usual. Nigerian people are really suffering and crying for help under Buhari. When shall Nigerians begin to see positive changes which President Buhari promised during his campaign? The more President Buhari rise to occasion by addressing issues of National importance the better it will be for him and the Nigerian people. 

Shaibu Stephen Ojate is a Journalist and public Affairs Commentator writes from Abuja. He is on facebook and reachable on 08052666344 or 08102658380.