By Isah Aliyu Chiroma
Seven months have passed since our nation embarked on a new path filled with promise. Giving their mandate for the future they want has been a difficult decision made by the citizens, and since the new journey began, there have been months of challenges through difficult terrain. However, this has always seemed to be the case when trying to change an established system, particularly in a nation like Nigeria. Then, should we exercise some more patience or is it too early to pass judgment on the new administration?
The president emphasized his major mandate on his recent broadcast, which included reviving the economy, restoring border security, reviving the struggling industrial sector, increasing agricultural output, and raising national productivity. In order to maintain equilibrium, let us briefly review the policies implemented throughout the past seven months. Those policies, are there in line with the president mandate.
Primarily, the elimination of fuel subsidies was declared during the honeymoon days of the government’s reign. Indeed, the gasoline subsidy has proven to be a financial burden, and it needs to be eliminated whether we like it or not. Then, in order to lessen the impact of its removal, the government must set in place a few essential elements before removing. However, the sooner this decision is made, the greater the impact that would be realized. When the subsidies were removed, there was widespread fear in the early days, weeks, and months. However, if you look closely at recent times, there has been no longer been any panic, and everyone has continued to move forward his regular routines which were affected by the panic, but it was diminished and absorbed. As a result, living expenses have increased, and the rate of underemployment is high.
In the reassuring words of the president, he said, “I am fully aware of the hardship, but the time may be rough and tough, our spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last”. Those words send chill down the spine most especially if you know how economy works. Yes we are all going through hard times, but it will never last.
Once upon a time when the cashless policy and the redesign of some naira notes was put in place, it was one of the tough and rough times in a developing country like Nigeria with unstable economy. I remembered leaving sokoto past 1pm en routing to the Northeast, where the driver refused to collect old naira notes after the bus was filled because he don’t know where to spend then, and even the passengers were lucky to get the old notes, when you can’t have a N500 note from a POS agent. Look at where we are today, it has become history.
In October 16, 1979 when former President Shagari made his address to the National Assembly he emphasized that his administration would place high priorities on agriculture, housing and education. Further, he went ahead to plead with the politicians for the overriding needs of one Nigeria over their own personal and selfish interest.
He blamed the failure of the first effort of the country to create a viable and democratically stable political process on what he called “the uncongenial atmosphere engendered by the uncompromising stance adopted by the political parties of the first republic”. Then he said something very important that we also need in this forth republic, “There was now a new opportunity to achieve national integration and we must subjugate our political and other differences to the unrelenting pursuit of peace, unity and progress of our motherland”.
I believe it is past time to remove all obstacles and cooperate to create the nation we desire. While it may not seem possible for someone with different aspirations to work together, if our shared concern is for our country, then our shared vision can unite us to work closely towards realizing our ideal nation.
One of the major events that shaped 2023 was the post-election tribunals, which is still on going for some of the elections, in a system where electoral process is still unstable, when people can be easily be given what they chose. In his broadcast, President Tinubu said, “I extend this call to my political opponents in the last election. Election is over. It’s time for all of us to work together for the sake of our country. We must let the light each of us carry men and women, young and old shine bright and brighter to illuminate our path to a glorious dawn”.
Looking at the 2024 budget presented, he stated the eight priority areas his administration will focus on, which includes; National defense and internal security, job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimization, human capital development, poverty reduction and social security. I am glad the president made a very important statement, so important that it will help us to account the government. He said, “Like I said in the past, no excuse for poor performance from any of my appointees will be good enough”. This is a very powerful statement of which shows how ready the renewed hope is willing to change the curse of things.
Not only that, the government has also set parameters for evaluation. I think the time has come for us to take charge of our future to know the kind of country we want as citizens. Being fully involved and take charge of our future will help us track from every budget to implementation process and evaluation. Only when we appear responsible as citizens and know the future we want then we can hold our government to account.
The New Year has just begun with high expectations from the citizens; it is the mandate of the government to fulfill its promises to make life better and better. Most importantly, we need to feel a shift and feel the renewed hope within us, only then the citizen will be proud to say, indeed it is a renewed hope filled with fulfilling promise.
