The chemistry of change is a conglomeration of political correctness, economic boom, social re-engineering and mulching a democratic culture, capable of attracting the world to Nigeria.
2015 was characterized by an unusual popular action against the then ruling PDP. The electorates waited for hours to register their support for their hero, President Muhammadu Buhari. He won the hearts of the people with his change crusade across the nation.
But the economic reality in the nation today is a betrayal of that electoral revolution of 2015. Families are finding it increasingly difficult to feed their children. The change which torched up the hope of a nation in 2015 has now become an object of ridicule. People now talk of changing the change. A word of hope now becomes a way of expressing hopelessness.
While it may be unfair to blame the President for the failure, it will also be unfair on the PDP to completely exonerate the incumbent President from the blame. Nigerians couldn’t have heaped all the blames on Jonathan for every woe under his watch but exonerate the incumbent when the cards are falling. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Leadership is about responsibilities.
To save the All Progressives Congress from the danger of changing the change, party leaders have to rise to the occasion. In a country where politics is everything and everything is politics, party leaders were hiding behind political exigencies, afraid to speak the truth to powers.
And it came to a brute reality that those who damned the consequences became heroes, not only among the dejected populace, but also among the powers who appreciates the mirroring of the times. One of those who spoke out to powers to rescue the populace was the effervescent Sen. Dino Melaye.
In the midst of a deafening silence at the centre of discomfort, Melaye stuck his neck out by calling for the sack of the economic Team, which in his perception, is peopled by incompetent people who are incapable of dragging our nation from its present recession.
Signals emanating from sources at the Presidency told Mr. Pen that the President is prepared to yield to pressures from the Senate to re-energize the Economic Team by bringing people with fresh ideas.
The humility of the President was displayed when he met with the Organized Private Sector at a retreat recently. He humbly solicited the support of the private sector and the National Assembly is solving the economic problems bedeviling the country. The stark reality is dawn on our leaders. We cannot continue to live in denial. As Yorubas would say, (aja iwoyi lomo ehoro iwoyi pa), meaning only modern dogs can kill modern rabbit.
The National Assembly must seize this golden opportunity to key into the sizzling poser of the mesmeric Dino Melaye to help fix our economy.
Has the present economic Team as constituted failed? Absolutely. It capitulated under a red-eye recession that is threatening the well-being of the people. No food, no jobs, no money, no power, no hope. The nation has been brought to her knees. In our very eyes, South Africa overtook us to become the biggest economy in Africa.
Let me borrow the words of Senator Dino Melaye, “You cannot continue to do the same thing the same way and expect a different result. You cannot continue to use a drug that is ineffective. Mr. President must reshuffle his economic team”. Succinctly patriotic!
Now that the President is ready to listen to the lawmakers, the legislators must rediscover their power by speaking on behalf of the populace. The Nigerian economy must be debated extensively with measures put in place. Sanctions must also be meted out to non-performing Ministers. They are carrying the destiny of 170 million Nigerians and must be held accountable. They can’t learn Development Economics with the lives of Nigerians.
I salute the Nigerian Senate under the leadership of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki for rising to the occasion to defend the welfare of the Nigerian people.
Now is the time to remind the President of the change promise. Nothing will begin with him when Nigerians roam the streets with empty stomach. All Nigerians are saying is : Let us have the capacity to buy the basic necessities.
Hunger is the root of every revolution. Nigeria beware. The people are quiet now because they trust President Muhammadu Buhari and the ever vocal Senate. When all of these instructions fail, I forbid so, Nigerians will ask the questions directly.
Buhari’s acceptance to discuss the economy with the Senate is a humble admission which must be hailed. Thank you Mr. President. Thank you Senate. Thank you Nigerians. Now, the hope is back.
Mr. Pen is a writer and thinker.

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