On February 23, 2019 Nigeria witnessed the dawn of a new era in her quest for accelerated socio-political development. The historic election saw the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari emerging as the 15th president of independent Nigeria. While many Nigerians envisioned his victory based on his achievements over the last three and half years, some others predicated it on his integrity which has seen Nigeria gradually returning to the path of rectitude, accountability in government and commitment towards the provision of basic infrastructure across the country.
As expected the president has dedicated his victory to the Nigerian people who despite the one week postponement still trooped out in their large numbers to vote for him on February 23, 2019. A peep into his second term is already foreseen with his promise to run an inclusive government in which all sections of the country will feel a sense of belonging. As a government, President Buhari’s first term in office has been remarkable in many ways especially as he focussed on repairing the country’s infrastructure.
Today, attention is being paid to the rehabilitation of rail lines across the country (the last time yours truly plied the railways was in 1986) and this is fundamental considering that the railways reaches most remote hinterlands of the country and its repair will reduce the damage being done on our major highways through the conveyance of heavy machinery and goods with trucks. Additionally the added of advantage of job creation in the railways sector across the country cannot be overemphasised.
Apart from railways, the roads and power sectors are receiving adequate attention under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. In fact, it can be said that as an administration bereft of corruption and the drawbacks associated with institutional corruption, emphasis is being laid on delivering projects that will make meaningful impact on ordinary Nigerians. Such programmes are already encapsulated in the N-Power programme, Anchor Borrowers programme, School feeding programme, as well as several job creation and agricultural programmes aimed at reducing unemployment in Nigeria.
On the expectations of Nigerians in the Buhari second term, the president has already sounded a warning of how tough it will be, especially as he intends to ratchet up the war against graft in government, and intensifying the war against insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country.
Most Nigerians have also heaved a sigh of relief that in his victory speech the president had assured the nation that he will run an inclusive government in his second term, and this will go a long way to soothe frayed nerves and pacify aggrieved sections of the country. By this reassurance the president definitely acknowledges that he is the president for all Nigerians and his victory will serve the interest all Nigerians, notwithstanding the political persuasion, religious background or ethnic origin.
With the level of accountability which the president has brought to bear in the running of government, there is no doubt that the next four years will be used to translate the dreams of Nigerians into reality. Those dreams can manifest in the provision of good roads infrastructure in all the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, equipping our hospitals so that they don’t become mere ”consulting clinics”; ensuring adequate power supply and consolidating on the gains of ease of doing business in Nigeria.
One of the best ways of maintaining this attainment is to ensure that Nigerian businesses don’t suffer unnecessary bureaucratic problems at the ports and land borders. Efforts must be intensified at ensuring that small and medium enterprises flourish in the country as they play a great role in the creation of jobs for the youths. New incentives should be put in place in the agricultural sector to make it more attractive to the digital age groups. Presently, they are more focussed on social media and internet to realise the importance agriculture can play in our national development. Indeed we must rechannel their attention to the agricultural sector in a way that assures of profitability and sustainable.
On this note, we join millions of Nigerians to celebrate President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the polls and hope that by 2023 Nigeria would have recovered from the economic morass in which it has been enmeshed over the years as a result of bad governance. This is achievable considering the solid foundation Mr. President is already laying in all spheres of our national life.
*** Chukwudi Enekwechi JP is an Abuja-based journalist and politician. Kwechis19@yahoo.com.
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