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Maduagwu: Issues from the campaigns

By Chimdi Maduagwu
11 February 2015   |   11:00 pm
THE current political campaigns are throwing up a lot of issues, issues that should rather be left where they are unless they must be properly treated because some of them stink. One would never know how decayed our society has become and how it is capable of belching out garbage until a period like this.…

THE current political campaigns are throwing up a lot of issues, issues that should rather be left where they are unless they must be properly treated because some of them stink. One would never know how decayed our society has become and how it is capable of belching out garbage until a period like this. Now the two big giants in the political arena, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), are trading blames; blames on who has contributed more to the filth in the society. Why the whole scenario has become interesting is because those who are leading the parties to the presidential polls are distinguished and honourable leaders of the country. While General Buhari was a former Head of State, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is an incumbent president. Both have had opportunities to show themselves to the nation.

   This is perhaps why the presidential campaign rages with tremors of “perils past,” “sins forgiven and not forgiven,” new thoughts and new hopes as against obsolete ones. I relate all the promises, confessions and clarifications by the giant actors to my humble Anglican song about the compassion of the Lord Jesus. We sing of “New Perils Past, New Sins Forgiven, New Thought of Life, New Hopes of Heaven.” Surely, we have passed through perilous times; surely we have sinned against each other but like the songwriter, it is probably time for renewal of love. We wait for a new dawn. The big question now is: who leads us to the new dawn?

   The exponents of Buhari’s “Change” consciousness insist that the General has been anointed to do so because of his supposed unimpeachable character. They have released his dossier, reminding the electorate of his track record of relative honesty, firmness and most of all, integrity. It is on the basis of these and a few other positive attributes that they insist that surely a deliverer is on the way. However, it appears to me that far above all this is a burning urge on the General to redeem his hazy image as a military or some form of an extremist. On the other hand, the Jonathanists do not pretend that they are presenting a saint, packaged in heaven and delivered to the world to cleanse it, like the classical Hercules and the “the Augean Stable.”       

   However, to them, he is a man like any other, who feels like any other, makes the mistake of any other but is able to rise when he falls and not only rise, but moves towards greater heights. Most of all, his supporters insinuate that he accepts that he is fallible and thus amenable to transformation. This is how he has become the defender of transformation. His personality has never been in doubt and the things he says he would do, he strives to do and when there are hindrances, he equally explains.

   At present, a lot of revelations are emerging and most times these revelations asphyxiate the political atmosphere. It has come to the point where we need to demand that we be talked to as if we were six years old children. We need proper definition of statements, terms, and words, so that we can be sure of what to do. Then my question is what is wrong in a debate? Does it matter who organizes it since we know the purpose for which it is organized. I think the important point is to either give information or clarify doubts on issues of the nation, the political parties and the individuals. I am particularly interested in the promises being made now. Since we are in the post-modern age, we need to get figures to back up claims and promises. 

   I have heard people clamour for the reduction or even eradication of unemployment. Well, this I can assure all Nigerians appears like a recurrent decimal at all times. We recall efforts aimed at either full, partial or even tangential mobilization of Nigerians into gainful employment and productivity right from Obasanjo’s “first missionary journey” during which he initiated the “Operation Feed the Nation (OFN)” programme. Then, there have been series of programmes and projects like Babangida’s National Directorate of Employment and again Obasanjo’s (second coming), National Poverty Eradication Programme, NAPEP. There was nothing done by Buhari’s military regime towards this. Jonathan claims that he has contributed and still contributing to job creation. 

   In addition to the existing structures of NAPEP etc, Jonathan’s key programmes aimed at keeping youths busy while they contribute to economic growth include those which draw upon Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P). They include Graduate Internship Scheme and Community Service Scheme. In the former, it is envisaged that about 50,000 youths would be attached to relevant firms and establishments where they would acquire skills that they would use for better and more permanent employment. The Community Service Scheme is also designed to get up to 320,000 youths busy with various support services, especially labour, in the construction of new infrastructure and rehabilitation of existing ones. 

   In addition to these, there is YOUWIN project, which, as at the end of 2014 has mid-wifed disbursement of funds for 2,400 viable businesses proposed by Nigerian youths and through which about 26,000 jobs have been created. It is, in fact, expected to create almost 80,000 jobs at the end of 2015. These, we understand are in addition to numerous jobs springing up from expanding industrial and manufacturing sectors as well as service providing establishments like The New Nigerian Railways. The creative and entertainment industries have attained an enviable height in the past couple of years. It is also clear that Nigeria has become the largest economy in Africa and the most sought after region in Africa by foreign investors. 

    I agree that these are the truth but we are partially aware of them and mainly ignorant of them. We need to be educated properly and the best form of education is to let us know how these affect us as ordinary Nigerians. We also hear others who covet the highest position in the country promise employment and job creation. Let me beseech them to please let us know how the jobs will be created. We want to be sure that those who want to rule us understand who we are, where we are coming from and where we are going to. 

•Dr.  Maduagwu is a lecturer at the University of Lagos.

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