Keeping focused on the goal as Nigeria clocks 59

TOMORROW, Nigeria will attain 59 years of independent nationhood. It’s been no doubt a turbulent journey defined by strife, storm and success on all levels—witness the military tears and civil strife, side by side the many ennobling stories of great men and women who gave their all to make the liberties of today a reality—but there is no compelling reason for despair. Yes, the economy, still smarting from decades of larceny, is not yet in the shape that we want, but things are steadily picking up. For instance, the World Bank Doing Business team has just announced Nigeria as one of the top 20 improvers in doing business out of 190 countries. The Doing Business report is an objective assessment of prevailing business environments based on a number of ease of doing business indicators. Among others, the World Bank recognizes the reform agenda being implemented at national and sub-national levels, including the Presidential Enabling Business Environment (PEBEC) initiated by the current administration in 2016. There are also the new landmarks in rail transport that Nigerians are already hailing as a sure remedy to the challenges of road transport in the country.

For the first time in a long time, Nigerians have a government standing up for their rights, and if in doubt, ask the South African government. Working with seamless energy, President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are doing their best to ensure that Nigeria gets back to winning ways. That counts for much in the eyes of peace-loving and patriotic Nigerians. But there are still many challenges ahead. The high number of unemployed Nigerians must be reduced. The Federal Government and the various state governments must work harder to create jobs. In doing this, they must focus on the goal before them. They must not be distracted by haters, because haters will never be pacified by good works. They thrive in disorder and revel in chaos. These few disgruntled elements desperate to pull the country backwards are resorting to the silly games of men bypassed by time, and the distinguished professor of law and pastor is their latest object of attack.

2019 UTME: Over 100,000 candidates now in universities ― JAMB

They sat idly by as the government won the confidence of thousands of Nigerians, including the traders who benefited from the Tradermoni and other initiatives in which Osinbajo played a leading role, touring the entire country, but now they choose to wail. They cannot contend with facts and so they embrace lies. Nigerians know the man who stopped the renewed Niger Delta militancy, reduced the price of food items through the Presidential Task Force on Food Security in 2017, approved the Ilorin-Omu Aran-Kabba road and other critical roads spread across Kano, Bauchi, Adamawa , Kwara, Gombe, Enugu and Kaduna states; reviewed the forex policy for greater national productivity, approved the N32 billion resuscitation and completion of the 50km dual carriage Kaduna eastern bypass highway and the $39.9 Cameroon-Nigeria border link bridge and signed the Oaths (Amendment) Act 2017, Defence Space Administration Act 2017, Veterinary Surgeons (Amendment) and others into law. But the haters are busy at what they do best: silly and perhaps even lunatic allegations of graft to blight the humble, supremely decent and incorruptible personage that the country is so blessed to have as vice president.  There is the hollow claims about stolen N90 billion, a claim promptly refuted by the leadership of the FIRS, and for which The Vanguard newspapers, as the dictates of journalism direct, has profusely apologised, fully cognizant of the repercussions of libel.But like the foolish fly that follows the corpse to its grave, the haters have stuck to their claims, asking the VP to resign so that the wishes of those behind his drama may come to pass.

And then the hawks/cabal or whatever they like to call themselves. They are, we hear, after the pastor for striving to rule by the dictates of his conscience, holding the fort admirably while his boss recuperated in the UK, neither abusing his office nor embracing graft. For sacking Lawal Daura who invaded the National Assembly in broad daylight, they claim that he committed a mortal sin, never mind that such sin is unknown to the laws under which the country and its people conduct their daily affairs.

Time certainly was when the VP’s office, as in those of many key officials of the Federal Government, was no more than a gateway to public theft, looting and revelry. Time was when women of easy virtue milled the State House to cavort with the destroyers of tomorrow. Now, as Nigerians are wont to say, it is no longer ‘business as usual’, for decent men and women now inhabit the levers of power. The president and his deputy must work as one, unbeatable team. They must keep their eyes on the goal of taking Nigeria and Nigerians to the next level. The National Assembly is ready to work with the executive to deliver the dividends of democracy, and that, precisely, is what the generality of Nigerians now desire. Although as Vice President Osinbajo once promised, this government has made doing business easier, there is still a lot to do, still many more bridges to cross and roads to travel. Talks and insinuations of division and strife did not help Nigeria in the past; they will not now.

• Adamu writes in from Minna, Niger State