By Akeem Afegbua

Buhari Is committed

Buhari wasn't president when factories in Ikeja began browning off and selling their facilities to churches. He wasn't here when 80% of SME died away and the rest went on life support. Buhari wasn't president when landlords were being watched charging rent in US dollars and stores were selling in hard currency. Buhari wasn't president when wheat farming collapsed and Cote d'Ivore overtook us in Cocoa production. Buhari didn't destroy Iwopin paper mill or ALSCON in Ikot-Abasi, a single factory that at a point brought in 30% equivalent of what we got from oil. Buhari didn't take us from net exporter of oil palm products to lazy importers of the same. Buhari didn't make us importers of petrol and diesel nor is he responsible for killing of the textile industry. He didn't destroy our forest resources or run down power stations like Egbin until only three out of twelve turbines work. People shout policy but there is no policy that can transform a 'post-war' economic environment with the snap of the finger and government should just tell the people that this thing is what it is. Government also has to water down expectations on oil prices ever rising above 55 dollars because it is just not possible in the age of Shale and renewables. This nation is cornered and it has no choice than to reform it's lifestyles and go back to work. It has to reform it's justice system such that it can jail it's thieves and reward those who do things right. We are refusing to allow hardship nudge us in the right direction but prefer to explain our woes as a personal failure of Buhari to draft policy from sheer air. They were trampling people to death on job queues before he came on board. Where are your farms to save you from food importation or your refineries to save you from seeking dollars to import fuel? Where are your schools to educate your children without sending them to foreign universities when you can afford it? He isn't two years in control yet and I believe he deserves a little more understanding given the gradient of the point where he took over. Buhari met all these things that way, plus a devastating war that devoured the nation from a region and we have the choice of working with him to restore and rebuild the country or allow ourselves to get us into false sentiments and allow wolves in sheep's clothings take advantage of us to return us to the years of the locust. ‎