After the last elections, there has been a feeling of despondency among the Nigerian citizens. They have resigned to fate on what to expect during the next four years of the Buhari’s administration. The Buhari administration over the last four years saw the citizens grappling to make ends meet as average income has fallen as unemployment rate is on the rise as well as national debt is increasing which now stands at N24.387t as at December 31, 2018 yet as reported by the Guardian, Nigeria may borrow to fund the 2019 budget which widens the debt as revenue sources dwindle. The latest figure according to the Economist has the unemployment rate at 23% and inflation is around 11%. Many companies are closing up as many are reducing staff strength.
At the inauguration ceremony of the president, though many Nigerians may have not been interested in knowing what went on at the Eagles Square but they were interested in knowing what the president prepares to achieve in his new Next Level administration. Nigerians were disappointed that the president could not address them. The president saw no importance to deliver a speech through which his thoughts and policy direction towards the economy and general wellbeing of the people will be known. A day after the president got sworn in, he left for a summit in Saudi Arabia, which left most Nigerians wondering if we are not that important.
At a time many reports of people committing suicide, security situation is worrisome and at a time the president has a good opportunity to motivate and raise hope and be the father of the nation, the president abdicated that duty and traveled out. Many issues are left unanswered, the economy, security, unemployment, healthcare and a lot of issues that the President has left unaddressed going into the next level. What are Nigerians going to expect? Will they expect more baba go slow president who enjoys flying to many countries and not wanting to talk to Nigerians? Will they expect an improved economy and improved security among other issues?
Days after the inauguration, the president has not named a new cabinet or reshuffle the existing one which largely has performed low. What is the president’s view on the growing violence and lack of respect for the rule of law going into the next term? As the economy continues to nosedive leaving the Economist to label Nigeria as where poverty thrives and Forbes writes about Nigeria being Africa’s money losing machine, it is noteworthy that in spite of the dwindling economy under the administration, Buhari budgets N751.296 million travelling around the world and another N250. 021 million for local tours.
One would wonder how much foreign direct investment such tours got Nigeria in the last four years for such a whopping amount. Yet, according to a Forbes report, Nigeria’s FDI flattened to $2 billion last year. It’s not a bad thing to embark on a summit a day after the inauguration but it’s being insensitive to the dwindling fortunes and the plight of Nigerians who yearned for their president to address them and usher in a new policy direction.