Article written by journalist and Ovation publisher, Dele
Momodu. Read below...

Fellow Nigerians, something melodramatic occurred
some days ago in Doha, Qatar, United Arab Emirates,
where President Muhammadu Buhari dropped a
bombshell inadvertently. And what was the matter?

The President in his usual candour and uncommon honesty
announced that one of his major campaign promises was
no longer feasible and practicable; the plan to pay
unemployed youths a paltry sum of N5,000 monthly
stipend was thus summarily jettisoned.
Or so it seemed.

To be accurate, what Mr President said with
a wry smile was that this was a campaign promise of his
Party and was one of the cardinal points of his Party’s
Manifesto but he had not personally campaigned about it
and it was not going to be a priority of his administration in
view of other more significant and important challenges.

However, all hell broke loose on social media because the
President’s body language actually suggested that the pledge
was dead in the water and had not just been demoted from
the list of priorities. There were several reasons why social
and popular media became instantly agog with activity on
this issue. Nigerian youths took great risk to get Major
General Buhari elected. They trusted him with their lives and
expected the change mantra to become reality as soon as
the People’s General regained power after being sacked as a military ruler in 1985. Truth is there are already some loud whispers in many quarters that lofty expectations are
turning to a mirage and that things are already falling apart.
Every explanation that it is too early to expect miracles is
hardly treated with belief.
Thus when the President delivered this seemingly bad news
to the expectant nation, it did not go down well with many
people. First the location was wrong. I agree that such
monumental decisions should not have been announced
while sojourning abroad. To some it would appear as if the
President was taking the easy pusillanimous way out.
Perhaps, the President should have addressed the nation on
home soil. Maybe the President could have requested his
ruling APC party to take the bullet for him by getting the
Party Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, to talk to the nation
about the need to revise the manifesto that was sold to the
electorate with so much glee. There is nothing wrong if fresh
realities have necessitated a change of plans. There is
usually a world of difference between the idealism of
opposition and the reality of being on the hot seat. It is one
of the reasons I don’t envy the President on this present job.
Mr President and his Party would have to sit down urgently
to reappraise things and come out with a tidier and clearer
agenda containing the realistic plan for Nigeria and
Nigerians in this dispensation. Sooner rather than later, the
first year of this administration will come knocking. It would
be disastrous if by May 29, 2016, we still cannot have a
glimpse of where the government is headed or heading. The
staccato, stop-start fashion by which things are being
currently handled must yield way to a smoother policy
manifestation and implementation. There are many things
that need to be worked on speedily.
The first and most pressing is the economy. What is on
ground now has been described by a famous economist as
“Robinson Crusoe economics.” Like Robinson Crusoe, our
economy is being handled like one man living alone on an
uninhabited island but surrounded by cannibals and vermin.
The economy is on a freefall, the sort we’ve not encountered
before. My humble suggestion is that the President should
assemble a crack economic team immediately. Those who
wish to hold conferences can still do so especially as we
know where similar jamboree conferences have gotten us in
the past. However, it is obvious that some people have
hijacked the misfortune of Nigeria and turned it into a
spectacular goldmine. “Voodoo economics” is being
practised by those milking the country dry and their acolytes
as well as by others wishing to manipulate themselves into
the position of latter day economics experts and get a slice
of the national cake. There are at this moment only a few
sincere economists about and we should tap into these
people but not make the mistake of putting them on the
same platform with the evildoers lest we become unable to
separate the wheat from the chaff. A nation that fails to
consult and use its best brains is doomed and may be
permanently jinxed like we seem to have been forever. In
any event what is necessary now is not to make the country
a debating society where esoteric and grand economic
principles are postulated and propounded but a society
where practical visionary and meaningful economic policies
are garnered and implemented.
As young as I was in the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, I
was aware that his best asset were the brightest brains he
was able to attract and assemble. He gathered their brilliant
ideas and merged them with his own. Leadership is thus an
art and science of skillfully managing people and resources.
It is even easier these days. In the age of advanced
technology, where you can buy whatever you lack, including
brains. As advanced as Britain is, the Governor of the Bank
of England was recruited from Canada. No one raised
eyebrows because the most important thing was getting the
job done. Our parochialism will kill Nigeria ultimately if care
is not taken. Many of the voodooists controlling Nigeria
know nothing about modern governance or managing an
economy, not to mention an ailing one. What is worse is that
they know that they know not but would not agree to allow
those who know something to do anything.
The time has come to declare an emergency on an evil
economic apparatus foisted on us by selfish people that may
end up ruining our otherwise great country. I believe we
should rise above partisan politics and bring our past and
present geniuses together including The Vice President,
Professor Yemi Osinbajo, The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi
Adeosun, The Governor of the Central Bank, Mr Godwin
Emefiele, The Emir of Kano, His Highness Lamido Sanusi,
Professor Charles Soludo, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, Professor
Part Utomi, Mr Bismark Rewane, and some of our brilliant
University dons to fashion out a way out of this scandalous
debacle.
The next thing is for this government to reflect true frugality
and shed the toga of prodigality that is already rearing its
ugly head. The President should be alerted about how those
outside now believe he has already joined the psychedelic
class by wasting resources on flights of fancy and excessively
flamboyant and ostentatious airport ceremonies. The social
media caught fire last Monday as the pictures of our Brigade
of Guards in Scottish kilt fully piped up welcomed the
President on his arrival from his Middle East tour went viral.
Such frivolity did not reflect the mood of the nation. The
President’s winning formula had always been his simplicity,
humility and childlike innocence. He must resist the
temptation of being corrupted by the carpetbaggers who
litter our corridors of power. Running the different tiers of
government has been a major drain on our economy. It is
also the reason the citizens would not change their ways
when government refuses to set good examples.
Everything humanly possible should be done to empower
and encourage Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola to give us power.
There will never be any meaningful development and
progress until we can generate enough electricity and be
able to transmit and distribute this effectively. When people
shout that we should patronize made in Nigeria products
they conveniently forget that most of what we use in making
the made in Nigeria products were fabricated and made
abroad. At best we are only an assembly line for these
products. An average company loses its profit to what
should have been provided ordinarily by government. I
cannot begin to overemphasise the importance of electricity.
Nigerians will never forget whoever can put an end to their
life in perpetual darkness. It is worth every effort and
investment.
It is heartening to note that there are those ready and willing
to partner with Government at little or no cost to make our
dire power situation a thing of the past using both
conventional and sustainable energy solutions. All that
seems to be required is for government to discard any
policy that would be a stumbling block to the utilisation of
these opportunities. Nothing must be seen as set in stone.
National development requires not only flexibility but a
willingness to think outside the box. It is time to seize the
moment!
In the name of God, we must revamp our educational
institutions. It is disgraceful that we watched them collapse
and we have refused to do anything tangible to bring them
back to par with their counterparts elsewhere. The APC
should tell and demonstrate in concrete terms what it
intends to do to restore the lost glory of our schools from
primary to tertiary institutions. Mercifully, the Vice President
comes from a scholarly background and hopefully should be
able to activate and actualize what the former President
Goodluck Jonathan, himself an academic, could not achieve
in the five years he spent as substantive number one citizen
of Nigeria.
Without quality education, most of our graduates would
never be employed or even become employable. Our school
curriculum must now be redesigned in such a way that it can
be relevant to the needs and requirements of our tough
situations. Entrepreneurship should become a compulsory
subject. This is why we must commend and recommend the
great initiative by Tony Elumelu’s foundation that seeks to
locate and situate hidden talents and future captains of
industry. Innovation and inventiveness must be encouraged.
There are Nigerians undertaking breathtaking research in
many fields of human endeavour within the hallowed
precincts of our university communities but they do not
have the financial muscle or government encouragement
and backing to be able to bring their dreams into reality.
Great nations are made from developing such talents.
Research and development (R & D) is the way to go. Most of
our manufacturing companies hardly have any such viable R
& D departments. Incentives must be given to all concerned,
including funding and tax initiatives, so that our nation may
truly enter the industrialised comity of nations and not just
pretend that we are better than mere panel beaters!
Yes, it is time for APC and the Government to set their
priorities again but this must be done with a sense of
purpose and a desire to take the people to a higher level.
May God help them

How can you rewrite what was roundly rejected and denied by the party ? The so called manifesto is non existent, you can write a new one for 2019 elections sha

May be they should leave it blank. Apc is a lying party and bubu is a dullcardinho

When a people enters a contest without the mind of winning they can act or behave anyhow.

When a people enters a contest with the mind to win by all means. They can do anything or say anything to win.

These two scenerio is what played out when APC was campaigning in 2014/2015. They never new it would be possible forthem to win power at the centre. Because of that they promised all manner of things and played even foul games to ruin & rubish the rulling party then.
Now they are in power, because the are ill prepered they dont even know what to do on how to run this nation.
Again pride is killing them. How can they look outside thier click for help. That would amount to weakness. Thats their problem.
Politicians can never take the place of technocrats. APC have to swallow their pride and reach out accross party lines to save Nigeria from tumbling into fire of destruction.

Dele Momudu is really WAILING these days...

I'm very happy with the writer of this article

Dele momodu one of the very good supporters of buhari now coming clean and stating true facts. This should tell the presidency that there is serious work needed to be done. To apc supporters-dont be a zombie forever..

KissCODE:
When a people enters a contest without the mind of winning they can act or behave anyhow.

When a people enters a contest without the mind to win by all means. They can do anything or say anything to win.

These two scenerio is what played out when APC was campaigning in 2014/2015. They never new it would be possible forthem to win power at the centre. Because of that they promised all manner of things and played even foul games to ruin & rubish the rulling party then.
Now they are in power, because the are ill prepered they dont even know what to do on how to run this nation.
Again pride is killing them. How can they look outside thier click for help. That would amount to weakness. Thats their problem.
Politicians can never take the place of technocrats. APC have to swallow their pride and reach out accross party lines to save Nigeria from tumbling into fire of destruction.

Dele is really WAILING these days...

I was wondering how he got the wailing form.. I thought i ordered for the last one

Great article sincerity in its purpose. This government must wake up and face reality. It will be 1 year soon and there is no visible change, even the anti corruption campaign promised is yet to offer any visible success in terms of conviction.

I wonder where this APC led government is taking this country to. I know Jonathan made a mess of this country, but we saw some glimpse of hope, like the Auto Industrial Policy, Revitalised Agriculture Programs complementing what Obasanjo had already put in place, some makeshift airport remodeling, SURE & YouWin programs, though both were failed projects, it showed there were intent to reduce youth unemployment.

However, what is Buhari and his ministers up to? For me, I'm getting irritated with the recent junketering activities of the President, he should look hard at the problems riddling this country and make plans to solve them. His continuous attitude of addressing and speaking about Nigeria's problems outside the country is an insult to Nigerians.

La Click La Dele Momodu

lanwrex:



I was wondering how he got the wailing form.. I thought i ordered for the last one

lolzzz...
Who knows maybe a pirated copy...

But WAILING WAILERS INCORPORATED has been growing faster now than ever...

Dele IS highly welcome anyway

Too long abeg

APC came to power without vision because they never knew they ll win. They were making all those promises thinking they ll loose.


$1 = #1,

Chibok girls - two months,

#5000.00 monthly to unemployed youths,

3m jobs annually,

24hours uninterrupted power supply,

#50 a litre of fuel,

Repositioning of the economy etc

Who still believe in this Useless Government . Nonsense.

KissCODE:
lolzzz...
Who knows maybe a pirated copy...
But WAILING WAILERS INCORPORATED has been growing faster now than ever...
Dele IS highly welcome anyway

Dele momodu was only advising buhari, this is what most of us should endeavor to do as a patriotic Nigerian and not marvelling at the joy in being a member of a negative group "wailing wailers ". If buhari fails, then the nation fails. ..if buhari fails to end the problem of power supply before 2019. Then we need to ask when Nigeria Wil get it right. We must criticize and advice the president constructively.. I don't like sycophants but I detest those that wish the president fails more than anything

I still don't want to believe that this country is too big for one person to govern. This is definitely not the best we can get from the government of CHANGE.

oduastates:
This Momodu is high on fermented kunu.
Fashola should give you power when the foundation of the entire power sector is riddled with all the same structural defects of a defective Union
No matter how hard he tries, there will never be power .
Sabotage , criminality and ethnic militias will see to it that there will never be power .
Nigeria has no economy to save , crude oil is only giving you the illusion of having an economy.In reality ,Nigeria stopped having a functioning economy the day oil was discovered in Oloibiri.
Nigeria as a country , will continue to degenerate with a few upsides here and there.
The long term prognosis is that of a failed state .
All the actors and factors needed to ensure that failure are already active .
At the forefront of this are the 2 foreign religions

Our double mouth is quite embarrassing! Instead of accepting that we the Yorubas effed up by aligning with the North and the obvious failure called APC, you are shifting the blame to 'defective union. If you believe the union is defective, why denigrate the ibos that wants out of the Union in the first place? Why didn't you also excuse the failure of GEJ's government on 'defective Union'? Or is it because the Hausas just reminded us who they really are in Mile 12?

It has started. Small small. The scales are falling fast.

Can someone tell me Dele Momodu is two faced... he should be put in the clique of FFK and Doyin Odupe.... PMB should be prayed for... These men around him should be feared cos they could do anything to enrich themselves!