Buhari’s focus on security, anti-corruption ‘laudable’

Arise Nigeria, a leading socio-political organisation consisting Nigerians abroad in various spheres of life, has given a critical assessment of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015-2019.

The group in a publication to mark President Buhari’s 100 days in office, gave a detailed analysis of the achievements of Buhari since he assumed office in May 2019.

The report said the foundation for a true change Nigerians have yearned for has been laid under the leadership of Buhari.

The report jointly signed by Philip Edeawor, chairman and Charles Eze, COO, called on all Nigerians to rally round the president as he strive to take Nigeria to a greater height.

The report below:

The year 2015 in Nigeria ushered in a new administration in Nigeria when Nigerians voted for the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari who at the time was the leading opposition candidate. The Muhammadu Buhari campaign was hinged on the “Change” mantra that resonated across the country. After the elections, it was on record that President Muhammadu Buhari created history by defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

Consequently, there was a burden of expectation that fell on the shoulders of President Muhammadu Buhari to indeed bring about the change that Nigeria truly deserves after many years of apparent misrule by successive governments. Arise Nigeria, consequently looked at the Nigerian story from 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari took over the realm of affairs in the country to 2019 when it ended its first tenure in office.

The overarching objective of this report is to highlight the various policy initiatives of the first tenure in office of President Muhammadu Buhari and whether indeed there has been any significant improvement in the governance of the country.

Pre 2015:

It is indeed a statement of fact that Nigeria was confronted with a myriad of challenges before the advent of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, which was occasioned by years of maladministration by successive governments. Paramount of these challenges were in the areas of the economy and insecurity, as well as the monster of corruption that threatened the very foundation of the Nigerian society.

The economy of Nigeria was in the brinks due to large scale corruption and the inability of the then administration to confront the corruption monster. It was speculated in some quarters that that past administration was unable to face the challenge because it was neck-deep in it and as such, it was a field day for and sundry to dip hands into the nation’s treasury with reckless abandon and at the detriment of the growth and development of the country.

The security of lives and properties in Nigeria was also at its lowest ebb with the threat posed by the Boko Haram Insurgency in North-East Nigeria, as well as the nefarious activities of other militant groups that wreaked havoc on Nigerians and without any help in sight. There was also a high prevalence of lack of patriotism amongst Nigerians, so much so that Nigeria was on the verge of collapse.

2015:

The Muhammadu Buhari administration inherited a system that was lacking in all front, and the starkness of the reality on the ground required urgent and proactive initiatives to take Nigeria out of the doldrums.

Arise Nigeria after an extensive study of the various policy initiatives put in place by the Muhammadu Buhari administration from 2015 came up with the different positions on how it has fared in terms of addressing most of the challenges at the time and where we are now as a country.

The Issues:

Corruption:

The Muhammadu Buhari administration from the available statistics at the disposal of Arise Nigeria, has indeed done tremendously well in addressing corruption in the country by introducing measures such as the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the introduction of the Whistle Blowing Policy which gave rise to tremendous successes in the fight against corruption.

The administration also introduced institutional reforms that strengthened the various anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). Consequently, this yielded positive results with the revelations that followed, as well as the recoveries and convictions made.

Insecurity:

The Muhammadu Buhari administration in the past four years was able to address the level of insecurity in the country with the quality of appointments made in the Armed Forces which translated to the various successes recorded in the fight against terrorism and other militant groups in the country. This is on the heels that before the advent of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Boko Haram terrorist occupied over 16 local government areas in North-East Nigeria, and the activities of militant groups such as the Niger Delta Avengers, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and the Indigenous People of Biafra were unabated.

The capital city of Nigeria was also under constant attack by terrorist groups as evident in the attack the headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force as well as the headquarters of the United Nations in Nigeria.

The efforts of the Armed Forces as well as the political will exhibited by the government has indeed assisted tremendously in turning the tide against Boko Haram terrorist in North-East Nigeria. Also, the activities of other militant groups have been curtailed.

The Economy:

There has also been a tremendous improvement in the economy of Nigeria despite the rot inherited. Arise Nigeria identified a combination of factors as responsible for this. And they are the commitment exhibited by President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the quality of appointments in critical sectors of the economy.

Conclusion:

Arise Nigeria after the extensive analysis of the state of affairs in Nigeria in the period under review comes to the conclusion that the periods of 2015 to 2019 in Nigeria experienced tremendous growth and development occasioned by the provision of sound leadership and a commitment to the introduction of noteworthy policy initiatives that have translated to improvement in all sectors of the Nigerian society.

However, Arise Nigeria notes that the gains, as mentioned above, did not come without an exceptional level of the sacrifice given the deplorable state of affairs pre-2015. The indices that Nigeria would consolidate on these modest achievements are visible.

It is, therefore, the considered opinion of Arise Nigeria that with the sincerity of heart and purpose as exhibited by the Muhammadu Buhari led administration, Nigeria has indeed made considerable improvements in all sectors of the economy.

The years under review indicates that the foundation for the “change” that Nigerians craved for has indeed been laid. What is now required is consolidation which Arise Nigeria believes would come about in the next four years of the life of this present administration.

Arise Nigeria in its assessment gives the Muhammadu Buhari led administration a pass mark in its resolve to put Nigeria on the path of economic growth and development in the years under review.

It must also be stated that if the same vigour and expediency exhibited by the Muhammadu ‘Buhari’s administration in the past four years is sustained, Nigeria would indeed experience tremendous growth and development in the years ahead.

Convincingly the last 100 days of Mr. President has witnessed sustained efforts to domesticate the legacies of his administration. Arise Nigeria is therefore confident that Mr. Presidsnt is on track and his lieutenants in the critical sector be commended.