Letters

Buhari has kept his campaign promises

President Muhammadu Buhari clocked 74 on December 17, 2016. With the exception of last year’s piece, my tributes had always been in the form of words of advice for the president not to relent in his efforts to become the president of this great nation. It is heartwarming that the President, in spite of his loses in the first three attempts, did not waiver until providence handed him the prize in 2015.

Obviously, President Buhari has not disappointed those who have genuine interest in his ability to lead this nation out of its predicament. As such, thus far, the president has lived up to expectation as far as his campaign promises are concerned. Buhari promised war against corruption, insurgency and all forms of criminality, among other lofty promises. The president believes that if the polity is free of corruption, the lives and property of the citizens are secured; there will be economic prosperity, political stability, and more resources to develop the nation. Thus far, his war against insurgency, particularly the Boko Haram menace, has been successful.

Pockets of resistance put up by the deadly sect are insignificant compared with the period before Buhari. Also, the war against corrupt practices is ongoing and many who have soiled their hands irrespective of status, ethnicity or religion are cooling their heels at the EFCC’s gulag. Although skeptics opined that the present administration’s war against corruption is selective and that only members of opposing side are being prosecuted for corruption, the fight against corruption is a process and every corrupt person will one day find themselves in the dock irrespective of time and space. The Treasury Single Account has reduced the incidences of misappropriation or diversion of public funds. This is a pragmatic way of curbing corruption. As a matter of fact, the feat of the present administration in curbing corruption and tackling insecurity has boosted Nigeria’s image in the international community.

It is obvious that Nigerians are groaning under the economic recession in the land. Nonetheless, the recession is not caused by the present administration but a carry-over from the previous administration, the fall in the price of crude oil in international market and the nefarious activities of the Niger Delta Avengers whose stock in trade is the attack on Nigeria’s oil facilities. Nonetheless, as a president who is passionate about the welfare of Nigerians, he is implored to bring the recession under control.

The skyrocketing prices of goods and services are having telling effects on the people. The fact that Nigerians are still supporting his government in spite of the recession in the land shows the belief people have in the president. Non-payment of workers’ salaries by many state governments is another sore point of the present administration which the president cannot be blamed for because he has been magnanimous in bailing out these bankrupt states with huge sums to pay the arrears of salaries and emoluments. The fact is that these states have to be monitored to make sure that the money are not misappropriated.