Abdullahi M. Gulloma
Once in a while, certain persons and events or issues could shape or alter our lives in diverse ways. Some quick examples: In Germany, the creation of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle car had a significant impact on the peoples’ lives for a good part of the 20th century. In the United States of America, the infamous terror attack of September 2011 altered a number of things in that country and far beyond.
Coming nearer home, it is crystal clear that the historical presidential poll of June 12, 1993 and its subsequent cancellation by the then Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, impacted on the country beyond the wildest imagination of the principal characters. Neither Babangida nor the winner of that poll, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, nor the then electoral umpire, Humphry Nwosu, had any inkling that they were setting in motion a series of events which consequences are exerting influence on us down to this day.
As head of a country or leader of a state, one’s actions and/or inactions can reverberate or resonate in more ways than can be imagined. If, for example, a president or governor decided to loot the funds meant for provision of arms for the soldiers battling dare-devil insurgents, the implication is better imagined than told. Millions of defenseless compatriots would be at the mercy of the rampaging insurgents, even as the soldiers would be decimated effortlessly.
Bearing the foregoing in mind, it is pertinent to ask:
Who are going to shape our lives one way or the other between now and the end of 2016? In what ways are these persons going to impact on Nigeria’s affairs? And what about events and/or issues that are most likely to affect us one way or the other?
We begin with President Muhammadu Buhari as leader of Africa’s most populous nation; he wields enormous power and influence. As President, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives him sizeable latitude to make or mar plenty of things.
It is, therefore, up to him to be weak and clueless (like a certain “Brother Jona,” you might insinuate) or “workaholical” and firm like a certain retired General has been demonstrating since May 29, 2015.
Morning, they say, tells the day – just as the taste of the pudding is in the eating. If we agree on that, then one dares say without fear of contradiction that judging by the “morning” of Buhari’s administration thus far, the auguries are good for Nigeria this year. Take a look at the President’s rather innovation budget, for instance. With juicy allocations forked out to capital projects on the one hand and critical sectors like education, defense and interior on the other, light rooms at the end of the tunnel.
In 2016 (like in 2015) Buhari will most likely remain as forthright and principled as ever, a man who will rather make mistakes in the course of taking decision than equivocate or sit on the fence. Don’t expect him to waver in his single-minded anti-corruption crusade and other issues such as devaluation of the naira, removal of fuel subsidy, anti-terror campaign and so on and so forth.
Two groups of public officials will also play significant roles in our lives this year. The first set are state governors. As elected officials they can help make or mar Buhari’s change slogan in their respective states through their actions and inactions. The same applies to members of the Federal Executive Council or Ministers. As Buhari’s trusted lieutenants in the various ministries, the onus is on them to implement programmes that will impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.
From the moment the National Assembly approves the budget, the ministers must not only perform but be seen by all to be really performing. For instance, one of the government’s cardinal programmes is the rejuvenation of the railway system. By doing so, the government intends to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in one full swoop, just as plans are afoot to employ 500,000 graduate teachers for public primary and secondary schools.
Can the Ministers of Transport and Education midwife these ambitious projects according to the expectations, or will they wobble and fumble?
One of the major issues that will probably dominate the landscape throughout this year is the little matter of how to (and how not to) handle the so-called highly exposed or influential personalities who are called to account.
Should they be treated with kid gloves as usual, or should they be made to face the full wrath of the law? The likes of retired Sambo Dasuki (who is being tried for mind boggling corruption) and the Pro-Biafra kingpin, Kanu, are cases in point. In his recent media chat, the President categorically declared that it would no longer be business-as-usual for such folks and the Shiites who have reportedly formed a state within a state.
To the President’s critics, he is being tyrannical by insisting on being tough with law breakers. Others, however, salute his no-nonsense approach.
That brings us to the issue of sliding oil price. Will crude oil price continue to decrease? Will it be lower in 2016 than it had been in the preceding year? How will this impact the federal government’s budget on the one hand and the nation’s economy on the other? Questions, questions and more questions which only the forthcoming months of year 2016 can answer.