The 55th Independence celebration of Nigeria’s nationhood has come and gone, but the implications of the speech by President Muhammadu Buhari that October 1st morning will last long in the memories of those privileged to have listened to that historic speech.
The President was presidential in the speech to the extent of its inspirational content. Hear him: “October 1st is a day for joy and celebrations for us Nigerians, whatever the circumstances we find ourselves in because it is the day, 55 years ago; we liberated ourselves from the shackles of colonialism and began our long march to nationhood and to greatness. No temporary problems or passing challenges should stop us from honouring this day.”
By this optimistic statement, the President sought to lift a nation in despair and melancholy, to a new mood dictated by thanksgiving and hope for a better tomorrow. A new Nigeria where everyone has a part to play. He acknowledged lost opportunities despite great endowments and celebrated our unity and democratic progress as great achievements, we must not overlook as a people and a nation.
President Buhari showed statesmanship and broadmindedness when he commended former President Jonathan for his sportsmanship by conceding defeat at the last Presidential election. Such are the attitudes needed to build a New Nigeria that tilted towards greatness. President Jonathan saved us from needless crises. The type that happened in Cote d’ Ivoire and the kind that the annulment of June 12, 1993 election plunged Nigeria into needless crisis. So, President Buhari celebrated him and it was worth the while.
President Buhari went further to allay the fears of Nigerians and political opponents while inviting all people of goodwill to join him in making Nigeria great. “We are not after anyone. People should only fear the consequences of their actions. I hereby invite everyone, whatever his or her political view to join me in working for the nation,” he promised.
The speech glossed over the problems and challenges facing the country and why he and his team are concentrating on looking for solutions in line with the mandate given by Nigerians at the historic March elections. He highlighted various strategies and decisions so far adopted and taken in tackling the menace of Boko Haram insurgency. Outstanding are the various international coalitions he has built in tackling the insurgency.
The recent improvements recorded in the power sector and in the regular supply of petroleum products all over the country were highlighted alongside the efforts to sanitise the fiscal system, particularly the revenue generating agencies – Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Federal Inland Revenue Service Nigeria Communications Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria Customs Service. In the President’s words: “Prudent house-keeping is needed now more than ever in view of the sharp decline in world market oil prices. It is a challenge we have to face squarely. But what counts is not so much what accrues but how we manage our resources that are important. We have seen in the last few years how huge resources were mismanaged, squandered and wasted. The new APC government is embarking on a clean-up, introducing prudence and probity in public financing.”
Perhaps, by Mr. President’s understanding, the fiscal sanity is most important to forestall the re-occurrence of unpaid salaries in various states of the federation – a huge problem which the new government inherited. President Buhari in the independence speech gave reasons for the seeming delay in the appointment of ministers. According to him, “We received the handover notes from the outgoing government only four days before taking over. Consequently, the Joda Transition Committee submitted its Report on the reorganization of Federal Government structure after studying the handover notes. It would have been haphazard to announce ministers when the government had not finalized the number of ministries to optimally carry the burden of governance.”
The President was able to use his Independence anniversary speech to chart the agenda of his administration. He emphasized the need for Nigerians to be patient, orderly and law abiding. He explained the place of CHANGE in his government and how all Nigerians have roles to play in realizing a New Nigeria.
“We must change our unruly behaviour in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens,” the President had stressed. For President Buhari, CHANGE is not just the slogan of the All Progressives Congress; it should be a wake-up call for his envisaged New Nigeria.
. Ugo Jim-Nwoko, a development policy and budget analyst, writes from Abuja.
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