PierreSizzl:


Don't get it wrong. Buhari's policies have veered off track long ago.

For a developing country like Nigeria to break the bounds and become a developed country, we need to have a thriving economy. We need to be able to attract foreign investors. People that have money and are willing to do business here. Like it or not, if you have a viable product in this country, with our population, you will sell and your brand will grow. Nigeria is supposed to be a fertile market.

This administration has by action or inaction eroded the confidence of these foreign investors. People are no longer sure that investing in this country is a good idea.

I'm not a fan of the past government but at least on paper, Nigeria was the fastest growing economy in Africa at a time. It is that kind of reputation that gives you people to come invest.

Our so called messiah has come and killed everything and I blame people like Ms Adichie for our current predicament. If you knew what happened the last time and you readily supported him this time, your logic is flawed.

I believe it was clear for everyone to see that this man had nothing to offer. We just wanted to boot out the past administration because we believed it couldn't get worse. What a shocker.

Now the same people are banking on 2019. Do you think that this administration hasn't learnt from the last one? Think.. If it were you, will you allow us to have free and fair elections when you know the masses will vote you out? If this president is still in good health by then, expect a second term. At least that would not be the first time he will break a 'campaign promise'

Mate: the concept of attracting foreign investment is true but largely misunderstood. The ONLY area Nigeria has attracted foreign investment in the past has been in Oil and gas. In truth the foreign investment in this sector has continued largely unfettered. Nigeria; because of a deeply depressed socio-economic configuration, of high corruption, poor education and insecurity has NEVER been a strong foreign investment destination. It is only academic, textbook economic pushers that have continued to push the arguments about attracting foreign investment in such a negative socio-economic climate. The government has configured probably the most ambitious plan for a broad based improvement of infrastructure and security. This in my opinion is what general investment (foreign and local) will thrive on. I think those of us who wish to make an economic argument must do so within the parametres of the budget and its faithful implementation. We have attracted foreign investment in a one dimensional manner for too long. We need investors that make a direct interface with the Nigerian population. The type that build factories and allied social services. This will only get to happen where the security, and the lawful framework of the country has improved. I believe this government has progress in that direction. This endless chorus of despair is unhelpful and very likely contrived by politics. We need a proper discussion about the best plans and ideas, this is not about the next election, it is more about a new direction!

I think Nigeria's larger tragedy is a very selfish elite, a highly pliable and restless citizenry and a seriously decadent political class. There are very few critics, especially the type that enjoy goodwill from a critical mass who detach tone and temperament whilst offering their opinions on an unpopular subject. So, somehow you will always find "social critics" aligning with popular opinions or causes. And this here is another example, we see it nearly every week, the likes of Pat Utomi, Dele Momodu (a well known flake) and his ilk. Not a lot of this group can distinguish between shaping public opinion and rehashing public sentiments. This is why I say Nigeria is full of Selfists!. These guys think first about their "brand" and constituency rather than broadening the space of thought and daring to offer an unpopular hypothesis. It beats me how Chimamanda will show up with her letters and propagate anecdotes, false impressions and contrived grievances as though they were hard facts. She vainly tries to contrive balance in her faulty analysis, but her skewed point is made. If you are reading this Ms,Adichie ask yourself if it is really true that the anti-corruption war is willfully only targeting opposition? Ask yourself if judges were "harassed and intimidated" like you say. There is a clear difference between explaining and complaining, try if you can to estimate the larger damage politically driven economic sabotage has cost the country and juxtapose that with the wrong perception of flawed economic policy. You do not become a great social critic simply rehashing opinions - because for the most part opinions are NOT facts! I am older than you are - so I also lived during Buhari's short first term in office. The picture you paint of generalised brutality is not one I can remember. You probably read this from the economist and have presented it here as fact. Nigerian armed forces are generally poorly trained - brutality is their badge and it wasn't less or more under Buhari.

Whilst it is true that Buhari has made some mistakes, configuring his cabinet late being the most obvious - it is disingenuous to isolate commentary into a shallow, narrow tube of cause and effect. The Buhari regime has met really difficult times in which the country has NO EASY choices to make. This is why "explaining" NOT complaining has become important. The persons responsible for the lingering rot are uncomfortable with their history and the looming realisation that they WILL pay for it. They have raised the decibel of deflection - mainstreaming the argument about complaining and the likes of Momodu, Adichie and Utomis of this world continue to egg them on. They hunt for likes on social media and constantly want to bask in critical self congratulation. They offer obfuscated analysis and think they can get away with it simply because they are singing the popular chorus. We need to configure a space for wider societal debate about Nigeria. Social media has become a serious threat to critical analysis and democracy as a whole. Even accomplished persons have been seduced by its false "neighbourhood effect". This piece may have been written for terrestrial media but the author no doubt knew it would have a bigger impact on social media.


Whilst Chimamanda writes beautifully when it comes to social commentary she does not write truthfully! Maybe she learn a thing or two from the likes of Sonala Olumhense and Okey Ndibe