***Buhari Scores Self High, As Nigerians Despair, lampoon Government.
By: Editor
Every year, since 1960, Nigerians are being asked to evaluate the state of the Nigerian state, and every year, the reactions have been similar: that Nigeria could do better, given her huge natural and human resources endowments.
Reactions this year, marking the 62nd anniversary have however been different, as they were mostly repulsive and despairing, and full of lamentations.
More often, the performance of the Government in power has been the yardstick for measuring the country’s performance, and this year’s own is not different.
In what could be described as his valedictory Independence broadcast to the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari scored his Government high, but admitted that more still need to be done, to fully meet the expectations of Nigerians.
Taking a retrospective view of the state of the nation at the time he took over, the President felt his Government performed better than preceding regimes, and promised to make the country even much better by the time he departs.
Our correspondents who went round most state capitals and the Federal Capital, where events have been lined up to celebrate the country’s indipendence reports that, it was a mixed grill, but mostly negative.
Depending upon which side of the political divide they are, a few expressed satisfaction with the country’s performance, and gave thumbs up to the Government, while majority of our respondents do not appear impressed.
Greater number of respondents were full of lamentations and outright displeasure with the state of progress, even as they took a swipe at the Government for presenting a false picture of Nigeria.
According to them there is a seeming insensitivity on the part of the Government to the plights of Nigerians, as government officials seem to be grandstanding in the face of obvious failures in addressing the nation’s problems.
More worrisome to the more enlightened ones amongst our respondents were the issues if insecurity, the economy, lack of transparency on governance, collapsing educational values and the seeming grandstanding by Government in the face of the myriad of problems.
A legal practitioner Festus Olaitan, based in Abuja summed up the opinions in his reactions to our reporter in Abuja when he said”The only thing we are perhaps celebrating is the fact that we are still together as a country. We have so many things working against our continued existence as a nation state today, more than ever before but we are glued together by sheer divine Providence. I feel sad being a witness to events of today, though I am not losing hope”.
Abdulmalik Umar, a teacher in Nasarawa State was more blunt in his own response, as he outrightly dismissed the celebration mood, saying,”tell me in all honesty as a journalist what we are celebrating as a country. Are we celebrating Boko Haram, Banditry, Fulani killers, kidnappings or oil theft. Are we celebrating because our children are at home due to ASSU strike or are we celebrating the pervasive corruption going on under this Government? Just tell me what we are celebrating.”
According to Umar, the Government owes Nigerians explanations about the mismanagement of oil revenues, and the President must also tell us how people around him became so rich in so shirt a period without commensurate means or known businesses.”Let me tell you some, I used to defend this Government so much and I have parted ways with many friends because of it, but today I am disappointed and I have been abusing them and they know why; because they are worst than any other one before them”, Umar added.
But Umar was not alone in his criticisms as Comrade Moses Okechukwu told us at the Eagle Square, venue if the National celebrations that, he has gone to the square to see what Nigerians have to celebrate, because he does not personally see anything to celebrate.”I am here to look into their eyes and possibly tell them to go to hell. They are just deceiving us, but Nigerians are now wise. I am more disappointed with Lai Mohammed with all the lies he has been telling Nigerians. I pity Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina because I know they have lost their conscience as journalists. Everyday they tell lies too, even when they know people don’t believe them”.
On a general note, events marking the 62nd anniversary was everything but celebrations, as Nigerians do not seem happy with the situation if things in the country.
The Government which has embarked on self assessment drive is being faulted, as Nigerians seem to loose hopes.
Analysing the various responses, our editorial team agreed to send out reporters for vox pop, which will be published verbatim as the outcome turns in.
Leave a Reply