A year ago, President Goodluck Jonathan unfolded his 2013 plan. Today, he has unfolded another plan for this year. But, what has happened between then and now? The challenge is marrying expectation with reality. Many agreed that it was increasingly difficult for the embattled Commander-In-Chief to live up to expectation. This year, will the transformation agenda bear good fruits?
In his new year message last year, Dr. Jonathan raised the hope of Nigerians. He said that government will improve security and power supply, fight the infrastructure battle, upgrade the national rail network, create jobs and wealth and foster public confidence.
Beaming a searchlight on the administration, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, described Dr. Jonathan as a kindergarten President. The remarks polarised the polity. Some agreed with the former Osun State governor, pointing out that the President lacked charm and carriage of a leader and the poor achievements of his dull government does not speak for him.
But, government officials, including the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, painted a picture of a growing economy. She said the atmosphere is investment-driven. Her evidence is that inflation is kept at bay. Power supply has improved and roads are being rehabilitated.
The “improved economic climate” projected by the minister has not heralded a high standard of living for citizens. They economic miracle is an achievement on paper without bearing on the life of the people. Two days ago, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) warned that political crises may create more economic hullabaloos. The President has not presided over a peaceful country. Despite the heavy investment, the security situation has not improved.
The Boko Haram insurgency is insurmountable, although the state of emergency in the three Northeast states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno has been extended by another six months. There is panic. Terrorism has become a major threat to peaceful living and socio-economic activities. In regions where people are insulated from the menace of Boko Haram, kidnappers and armed robbers are on the prowl. In fact, kidnapping has become a lucrative business in the South. Peace also eluded the polity because of the activities of major actors. The crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engulfed the nation. Attention shifted from governance to crisis management.
The anti-graft war suffered during the year. There was a shallow commitment on the part of the administration. . Alarmed at the trend, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal chided the President for encouraging graft. He lamented that the resolutions of the House on corruption were ignored by the Presidency. There was also a controversy over the handling of the SURE-P Programme. There were allegations that the money ended in the purse of party chieftains. The ordinary citizens were left in the cold.
Job creation has been a mission impossible, although government claimed that it has facilitated the creation of employment through funding for some creative activities in the agricultural sector. But, experts have argued that the solution to unemployment lies in the activation of the power sector. The revitalisation of the critical sector would have aided the resuscitation of the moribund manufacturing sector. The sector is on its knees. The cost of production has made some of its operators to seek refuge in the neighbouring Ghana and Republic of Benin, where electricity is stable.
Artisans, peasants and operators of small and medium scale enterprises suffer from power outage. They often resort to the noisy generating sets, spending huge sums on petrol and diesel. Many of them have been forced to close down. Thus, there may be a relationship with soaring unemployment and high crime rate, which the government may have ignored to national peril.
How can government also create wealth without stable power supply and good roads. In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the improved rail network is being felt. Outside the choice city, transportation is still a nightmare. The East/West road may still take a long time to complete, despite reapeated assurances. The piecemeal rehabilitation of federal roads appears to be another cosmetic measure designed to make it appear that the Federal Ministry of Works cares . The Soutnhwest, which has complained of marginalisation with proofs, is unhappy that the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway is still an abandoned construction site, despite the renewal of the road concessioning.
For over five months last year, the universities were under lock and key, no thanks to the lecturers’ strike. A semester was lost to the industrial dispute. The polytechnic teachers were also on strike. But, they called it off without any agreement with the Federal Government. Now, medical doctors are on warning strike nationwide.
Will this year be a clean break from the sordid past? The rhetoric is being repeated. President Jonathan has wished Nigerians a happy amalgamation anniversary. The mistake of 1914, in his opinion, is a blessing. He has called for unity in a country divided by the bitter struggle for the Presidency between the North and South. He made allusions to the 2013 budget, avoiding the judgment of failure passed by many federal legislators. He said his administration is focused. But he did not point to any proof. He said that 1.6 million jobs were created last year and that more will be created this year.
This year, the President promised more funding for education and health sectors. He also promised to cut the cost of governance by reducing frivolous spending on unwarranted foreign trips. He promised housing through mortgage, support for the electoral commission to uphold the sanctity of the ballot box and commitment to the proposed national dialogue to enhance national unity.
The President has made a lot of promises at a time many doubting Nigerians are weary. His performance this year is critical to the chance of his party at the next year’s poll. Already, the APC has described itself as the government-in-waiting. Will the Presidency and ruling party wake up from their slumber this year? Time will tell.
Emmanuel Oladesu, The Nation Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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