The greatest plague a country could ever face isn’t corruption, but ill hearted leaders, who have refused to admit that they are devoid of what it takes to lead. They eventually drag the country to the ashes below.
In 2015, Nigeria ranked 136 out of 167 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index. So, when the President Muhammadu Buhari said, “If we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill us” many of we Nigerians did not know Mr President was laying the foundation for this trending motivational talk in Nigeria, in which he has succeeded. Any carpenter can make a million classroom desks from one tooth pick and make billions out of the business if he believes and tries it.
If promising and failing was a debt incurred, then when will Mr President fulfill at least one of his numerously vague promises; The daily feeding of students, the monthly stipend of five thousand naira for unemployed youths, the promise of sweeping corruption away, and ending the Boko Haram insurgents in one day if elected President”. But rather, since his election in 2015, an estimated 560,000 people have fled their homes in the north, with only their lives as the only property they took with them. Nearly every single soul in Rann of Northeastern Borno State have fled into nearby Cameroon for safety due to Buhari’s inability to clamp down on Boko Haram. If promising and failing was a sin, then Mr President should seek forgiveness from Nigerians for his numerous sins.
But what actually happened to the budget allocation to Defence and Security? Nigeria’s budget in 2015 was 5.068 trillion and 389 billion went into security. There was 6.061trillion budget in 2016 and 430 billion went into security. There was 7.444 trillion budget in 2017 and 466 billion went into security. There was 9.12 trillion budget in 2018 and 481 billion went into security. There was 8.92 trillion budget in 2019 and 544 billion went into security, and there is 10.8 trillion budget in 2020, with about 623 billion for security, as reported by the Budget Office of the Federation. So, where are these funds ladies and gentlemen?
“If we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill us” he said. Why has he joined corruption to kill us faster?
In the alarming insecurity, the government which claims to have spent 1.164 trillion on power has descended darkness on us and paralyzed businesses across the nation, with candle sticks dominating stores that should be selling food stuffs. But how can stores still sell food stuffs when our minimum wage is far less than the cost of a bag of rice? If our eyes are used to darkness, our mouths should be used to food at least, but they have taken both light and food away from the poor.
While petrol pump price has been increased to 151.56 per litre, the Nigerian reserve has been on a downward slide since last year, after hitting a high 45.17 billion in 2019, with the reserve losing over 11 billion dollars within 10 months, and the naira losing disastrously to dollar every now and then. In the pool of this mess, Nigeria’s total debt is closing on 33 trillion naira according to the Senate, with China, world bank, African Development Bank, and International Monetary Fund all our creditors.
But what sort of economic team did President Buhari appoint?
30.5 billion has been spent on covid-19 according to the federal government with no new hospitals built, and while the suffering masses are busy shedding tears, the National Water Resources Bill has passed 2nd Reading in the legislature. If that law is ever assented, it will hand the ownership of water to the federal government which will determine the production, distribution and consumption of water. That implies the government will decide when and where water should be accessed, who should be given license to drill for water and how much it would cost.
Throwing light on the misfortunes the present administration has brought on the nation, gives an insight on the regression the country is facing and will continue to face if this system of administration continues.
By: Jamesleo Oche and Emmalase.
Emmalase