•Plead he fights hunger too, not only corruption •Past govt failed to save for rainy day—FG •Says genuine effort being made to revamp economy By Chidi Nkwopara, Luka Binniyat, Samuel Oyadongha, Jimitota Onoyume, Peter Duru, Daud Olatunji, Suzan Edeh, Francis Igata & Abudulsalam Muhammad In the twilight of the Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party administration, Nigerians lamented that they had never had it that bad. The challenges confronting them appeared insurmountable. There was pervasive corruption that threatened to sweep away the entire nation. Insurgents were having a field day in the north, declaring their own republic within the Federal Republic of Nigeria and annexing towns and villages while the government looked helpless. There was massive unemployment and the energy sector was in comatose with unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power shortages. The generality of Nigerians, with the exception of those who were directly benefiting from the government of the day were totally disillusioned. They cried for change and yearned for a messiah that would restore sanity in the land. When the former military ruler, General Muhammadu Buhari therefore emerged the presidential candidate of the then opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, there was wild jubilation in many parts of the country. For someone who hated corruption with a passion, Buhari was seen as the only person who could fight corruption to a standstill. He was known for his fight against indiscipline when he was military head of state. With his large following and his pedigree, his victory at the presidential polls in April 2015 was not a surprise. He had tremendous goodwill both at home and abroad. Alluding to this in his inaugural speech on May 29 2015, President Buhari said “my fellow Nigerians I can not recall when Nigeria enjoyed so much goodwill abroad as now. The messages I received from East and West, from powerful and small countries are indicative of international expectations on us. At home the newly elected government is basking in a reservoir of goodwill and high expectations”. To whom much is given, much is therefore expected. Nigerians expected President Muhammadu Buhari to hit the ground running. The president himself promised to tackle the challenges head on. “Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems”, Buhari declared in his inaugural speech. One year after assuming office however, Nigerians have expressed total disappointment in his administration. They are agonising that they have not felt the desired change they voted for in President Buhari. Great efforts have been made to curtail insurgency and the government deserves huge commendation for that. The fight against corruption is well appreciated but it appears targeted at politicians only as the customs, the police, the civil servants are still corrupt. It is still business as usual in so many sectors. There is a groundswell of criticisms of the government’s response to the economic crisis which led to increase in prices, growing unemployment, job losses, pay cuts and owed salaries. Even President Mohammadu Buhari’s ardent supporters like fiery Catholic Priest, Ejike Mbaka are commending him for the fight against corruption but accusing him of not equally responding to an economic emergency that has left many families struggling or unable to feed. Mbaka, in a sermon to his congregation on July 23, said “hunger is everywhere. As the president is fighting corruption, some of us are praying that he will equally fight hunger. The landlords are crying, tenants are lamenting. Sellers are crying, buyers are lamenting. Many students are being rusticated from school because they can’t pay school fees. Proprietors are distressed. Many companies are winding up. The economy is hard”. Nigerians across the country agree with the Catholic Priest who however maintains that the blame of today’s condition should go to the Jonathan administration. Nigerians are now saying that what they are experiencing now is not the CHANGE they bargained for, that they have been deceived by the APC government that led them out of the biblical Egypt and the government has now abandoned them in the wilderness to die of hunger and misery. We sought the views of many Nigerians especially the commoners. And their common saying is that the Buhari CHANGE has not brought the expected change but gloom. Salisu Saidu, bricklayer, Kaduna state “I used to make about N1,500 to N2000 everyday I went out to site, and there was plenty of work up to 2015. We thought we were suffering even at that time and I was a strong supporter of APC. Today, I cannot believe what I am going through. I am a Muslim, my religion forbids lies. The two men I supported, Muhammadu Buhari and Nasir el-Rufai were supposed to abide by this rule. But, I can tell you that it is unfortunate that they have not tell us the truth. For the past one month, I have got only four jobs and the pay was below N1,500. People are not building anymore and prices of foodstuff are getting out of hand. It is very sad, that Muslims would be like this. I had to argue with my Iman the other day, when he kept saying that we should be patient and I asked ‘should we be patient until we die?’ Idris Makama, butcher, modern market, Kaduna state “I am very sure that baba Buhari means well for this country. Yes, there is suffering, no doubt, because even in my business you can see that. The only problem Baba has is that he has allowed very wicked people who were formerly in the PDP to close his eyes. But, if you look at the way he is arresting those who stole our money, you will know that there is hope for this country. I’m sure that things will improve. Bad aides and former PDP members in APC today are the problem, not Buhari. I expect him to sack them and bring people who have the genuine love of Nigerians.” Shegun Akinola, Barber, Waff road, Kaduna state “Look, Buhari did not go to school. There is no man with simple education that will not be able to know that you cannot just give appointments to your brothers and friends in a country of 170 million people in 36 states. That is why he is not able to understand simple advice on how the economy works. He thinks everything is by force. As a graduate, I have been living fairly well in this barbing business, because of my location and because people came here not only to barb, but to also buy clippers and perfumes here. But since these people came to power, I’m now regretting not having a formal job. Patronage has dropped badly, and my wife is worried that we may not be able to pay our rent this year. They say he is fighting corruption. Let him fight hunger first, let him provide security too. Let him stop selection in fighting corruption, let him do something about the value of the Naira, jobs etc. Everyday prices of things keep going up and there is even no money to buy them. I’m very angry, sir.” Hassana Awolu, Food vendor, Kano road, Kaduna state “I don’t like talking about Baba Buhari, because if you are not careful people will insult you anyhow. There was a day that I quarrelled with my husband and he almost beat me up in the presence of the children. He was one of those who campaigned for Buhari, but now he hates to hear that name. As for me, I love Buhari. He is a honest man and he does not care about the things of this world. We are suffering now because Goodluck Jonathan left so many problems for this honest old man, and he did not know that the problem is this much. We should be praying for him and not abusing and cursing him. At the beginning we shall suffer, but in the end we shall enjoy. I don’t want to lose hope on him. Because, if Baba Buhari is not there, I don’t see anyone that is good enough for this country. The change will surely come”. Grace Onyebuchi, food and drinks vendor, Kakuri, Kaduna state “I beg sir, don’t ask any question about that man. Are you not in this country to see what is going on? Since my husband died five years ago, this business of selling drinks has been feeding me and my children. I used to have five girls working here, apart from the woman who prepares my pepper soup in the afternoon and leaves. I paid each one of them, N10,000 every month, apart from giving them transport money. It was from this business that I completed the house which my husband started before he died in 2014. But now I can barely pay two girls, and I have to stop the woman from coming. I now prepare the pepper soup myself. From selling about 50 cartons of assorted drinks everyday, I now manage to sell five, and many people are owing me. I could sell 50 plates of pepper soup, Nkwobi, Goat Head before but now if I sell ten plates, then it is a good day. Governor El-Rufai is not paying workers, business is not moving for many people and food is too costly. Is it not when you eat that you can afford to drink? If things continue like this up till next year people will die like flies. I hate APC now” Tabitha Markus, Trader, Sabo Tasha market, Kaduna state “In 1984, I was nursing my four months old first baby, Kazah when Buhari and Idiagbon removed Shagari from power. I cannot ever remember being so hungry like in those days. We would queue for hours and days just to buy milk, rice and bread and there were soldiers flogging us. That year, people were stealing other people’s food while it was being cooked. I told these young boys shouting “change! Changi Changi!” that Buhari would bring hunger, but they would not listen. I can see another 1984 coming again. People are suffering. My shop is full of goods, I cannot sell, because people don’t have money. Please help us tell the president that people are dying of hunger.” Dr. Ben Tantua, Teacher, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state “The present slogan of Change is rather a situation of bad to worse economy. There is high inflation rate coupled with the exchange rate of Naira to the Dollar now fluctuating between 350 and 400 to one dollar. This clearly shows the kind of change we have, this change has no economic policy direction.” Comrade Alagoa Morris, Niger Delta activist, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state “What I have observed so far is that, the President has the zeal he had when he was a military head of State to tackle those things which have continued to embarrass Nigeria in the committee of nations. These include corruption, indiscipline and unethical behaviour in our individual and collective lives. His lack of confidence in the judiciary speaks volume, especially in his desire to tackle the hydra-headed monster called corruption.

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