₦airaland Forum

Ok na, lalasticlala you hear that?

By Oluseun Onigbinde

Nigeria’s new president was always going to have his work cut out for him. Some voters placed him on a pedestal, hailing him as the man who would save Africa’s largest but languishing economy.

By his own admission, Muhammadu Buhari is something of a rock star. People cry when they see him, with thousands defying airport security to run on to the tarmac as he flew into Taraba state in March. An 80-year-old food seller from Kebbi state even donated her life savings to his campaign in January, reducing the lanky ex-general to tears. In northern Nigeria, his street name is Mai Gaskiya – one whose word is his bond.


Post-election, the heat is on. Falling oil prices (now below the budget benchmark of $53 per barrel); Boko Haram’s raging insurgency that has claimed more than 13,000 lives; and large-scale corruption have ensured Nigerians are getting tetchy.

After winning by a 2.57 million-vote margin, Buhari was expected to kick off his term by cracking down on corruption and reclaiming some of the $15.7bn that has been taken out of Nigeria illegally in the past decade. Nigerians thought this was a given, noting Buhari’s previous record as military head of state 30 years ago.

But now, the public’s confidence in his ability to root out corruption is waning as Nigerians realise no one seems to be going to jail soon; Buhari’s party has outlined “alleged” corruption scandals in the newspapers, but taken no one to court. He has not formed a cabinet, or provided clear-cut policy directives in critical sectors. His party has enthusiastically welcomed new members from the opposition party, while the National Assembly only sat for 14 days in three months.

So far, Buhari seems to have focused on fighting Boko Haram, giving newly appointed security chiefs a December deadline to end the insurgency; cleaning up the corrupt oil and gas sector by appointing a new head of the state oil company NNPC; and rebuilding Nigeria’s image with strategic diplomatic visits. Clearly, he wants to persuade regional allies to cooperate in the fight against Boko Haram by contributing to a multinational security force. He is also looking into a raft of over-budgeted security contracts for weapons.

Meanwhile, the public’s staunch belief in the integrity of Mai Gaskiya has been taking a hit. The president has declared his assets via a press release, but this still falls short of the standard prescribed by the Code of Conduct Bureau. He has promised to release the full documents soon.


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Buhari’s decision to wait 90 days before appointing key government officials led to an uproar, with critics saying he favoured people from the north. His aides, in damage control mode, said that more than 6,000 appointments are yet to be announced.

Now focus has begun to shift to the cost of a bloated cabinet. On the ground, ordinary people are bearing the brunt. Since Buhari’s win, the stock market has lost more than $10bn in value, job creation has ebbed, and growth slowed to 2.35% in the second quarter, with the low oil prices in the spotlight. Petrol prices have stabilised but inflation keeps rising and the petrol subsidy debt has risen to $1.57bn: if unchecked, this is likely to lead to another oil workers’ union strike and rise in energy prices.

There are, however, glimmers of hope. Buhari has been decisive in coming to the rescue of states owing salaries, with a bailout of $4m. His new tax boss is Babatunde Fowler, who notably raised tax revenues in the economic capital of Lagos. Fowler has a herculean task; Nigeria’s non-oil tax to GDP ratio is a shameful 4.6%.

Buhari is undoubtedly aware that he has his work cut out for him. Rather than erode public trust by trying hard to deny the magnitude of the promises he made, it would be better to honestly admit that most of them are impossible to fulfil, in the short term. His ability to prioritise and delegate as he forms his cabinet will be the deciding factor. Change will be painful, but to triumph, Buhari must make up for lost time as he unveils his cabinet this month.

Buhari’s supporters say his “body language” – or how his behaviour shapes attitudes in the civil service – is already paying dividends. They say the notoriously erratic power supply is already better, because corrupt officials fear what Buhari might do in the future. However, as Vincent Nwani of Lagos chamber of commerce and industry recently wrote: “Industry operators cannot take investment decisions based on [the president’s] body language.”


http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/sep/07/nigerias-staunch-belief-in-new-president-muhammadu-buhari-being-sorely-tested

Abdulhakeem7:
she said d truth,all of una wailing wailers will continue to wail till Jesus(pbuh) will return

Shoro niyen?

Abdulhakeem7:
u're just a common attention seeker who lacks content. All ur headlines belong to d trash their permanent abode. All of una go continue to wail till Nigeria ranks high amongst d top countries across d globe. Ex-presido GEJ knew he needed to give in to CHANGE and he gently did meanwhile all of una nonentity are still roaming about carrying tales around. I pray all of una go get sense soonest.

What's this one saying?

AwesomelyMade:
You are following him on facebook.

Oh! How you love and admire barcanista.

You can imagine the love, he/she might have his number and bbm. Pin. As well dnt be surprised

MrMcJay:
The correct word is 'illbred' and that is your first name, you child of a thousand fathers.

Yu fada is dead by nw

copiescopy:
THEY FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE OLD MAMA THAT PRESENTED HER LAST 1 MILLION NAIRA TO THE DAURA DULL.ARD TO PURCHASE HIS PRESITAIL FORM OR IS SHE MISSING ALSO LIKE THE LAND IN PH ?

Op that one concern una

Kyri:
go ask ifa

Retarrd

attacker231:
Gerrout.

Not surprised

Beanwalker20:
They've been there since almost a year ago according to the report, So they've been there since the time of GEJ administration. So who is now a dullard? You or Buhari or GEJ.

You and buhari

IdisuleOurOwn:
Behold!
Leaders of tomorrow.


Smh.

Yes oo

MrMcJay:
You inbred retard, Why don't you direct that question to the elders in your family (if you have any).

Illbreed mofo get a life, social media ain't helping you

INTROVERT:
what

Don't know

MrMcJay:
Stop addressing PMB the way you address your father. It was GEJ that sent them there in 2014.

Get your facts right. q

Mugu is buhari ya father Assholee

TheFilmmaker:
I'm pro Buhari but this post is hilarious.

Thanks for making me smile this morning.

Who said wailers don't have their usefulness?

Correct man

ademega:
at least I got a quote.
otope

Na u frame dat 1

Kyri:
apply sense

Sense na cream?

efilefun:
Like peak milk its in you....

Ok, nxt time look b4 u quote anu ofia

efilefun:
Sorry to say but your stupidity is inbuilt it can never ever be detached from you, you made no sense at all.

Quoting someone that made no sense makes you a fool and a bunkum gerrarahere

Buhari sent them to do that I know,

Dullard ruling like a tyrant nonsense

ademega:
with the present situation on ground, this is no longer making sense. try to change your tactics

It got likes even ya mention got no single likes showing you saying trash

speedyGonzales:
what has he done? we really have to follow rule of law, even if the person is a bad guy because so any accused Nigerian will be dragged out of his house by DSS without any warrants, someone could call DSS with a false tip on you... and they just arrive and beat you up without proper investigation... I don't want that, I don't government agencies deviating from the rules when dealing with Nigerian (guilty or not)

So fayose and pdp chairman lied about the invasion?

IDERAWOLE:
Put in check by who?

Some of you Niger Deltans are mere noise makers.

The governor will not allow his name & reputation be put in mud by one Godswill.

You guys haven't seen nothing yet.

Some are even threatening sectional war; who will lead you guys, please wake up.

You thought Akpabio had accident in Abuja few days ago? Wait; you will soon be reminded that Akpabio once told OBJ that he's not ready to go to jail when they came begging him ( OBJ ) to back to PDP. Hang on friend, you'll soon see the SEASON 2 of these unfolding drama. Be patient.

Boy you a noise maker all you wrote is trashy eeewww

Taiden:
Nigeria shall be great again.

Yes when you become president not now

stuff46:
Always

Buhari na scam

Yahoo man

HungerBAD:
Laughing like Gowon when he heard that,Ojukwu was boasting he will Win the Civil War.

This is not only funny, but downright Comical.

So Illinois recognizes Biafra but not the United States? or the UN? that means Syria,Iran, Afghanistan, Haiti, Vietnam and Zimbabwe might even recognize you guys?you guys are improving and going places.

You should try to come to my City, so the little Walmart Store here can give you a letter of recognition, so you can put it online too with the caption WALMART RECOGNIZES BIAFRA.

At sight of biafra yu focks panic why? Admit u don't want them to leave they make y'all wail *whew*

Step in the right direction, just to keep on track on what's good and bad

KINGSAMURAI:
RADIO BIAFRA

Hiann

Cutehector:
I dnt find anythn disturbing about this

They towing the right path

GoldCircle:
#Bittertruth
We southerners are very smart. See where our smartness is leading us.

Goldcircle?? WTF