Posted by By Phil Tam Al-Alalibo on
RECENTLY, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar invited 120 Nigerians from all walks of life to a three-day retreat where the retreat goers were saddled with the onerous task of critiquing his programme and policy direction as it pertained to his presidential ambitions.....
RECENTLY, Vice-President Atiku Abubakar invited 120 Nigerians from all walks of life to a three-day retreat where the retreat goers were saddled with the onerous task of critiquing his programme and policy direction as it pertained to his presidential ambitions. During this exclusive retreat where profligacy reigned without regards to probity,(not a good sign of things to come under Atiku), five daunting priorities were duly identified for special attention in an Atiku presidency. It is apparent even to the casual observer that his staffers and advisers have done a stellar job in identifying these crucial areas that have subjected the Nigerian masses to drink from their own urine, so to speak.
They were the economy, with more than a passing emphasis on job creation through agriculture and small and medium scale industries, infrastructure development and maintenance, democracy and good governance, education and social welfare and of course, the after-thought, the Niger-Delta. From all indications, it is clear that the proprieties of the agenda were born out of a meticulous discourse and a purposeful endeavour; however, they invariably resemble the unattainable Christmas wishes of a restive and an over-anticipatory child. Indeed, the VP's plans to 'declare power supply" in the country as well as ensure an efficient railway system, attract a few cogent questions as well as a goodly dose of dubiety. If he could declare power supply in 2007, why couldn't he do it now in tandem with his boss? Or is that the much awaited Atiku's masterstroke? What could possibly change the course of events in these regards in the next few years?
Is Atiku aware of the innate challenges of moving these white elephant projects that have dogged many an administration? It is wise to be realistic and even wiser to be measured and judicious in the business of agenda setting.There are further questions on that same agenda. It was indicated that '…the creation of 2.5 million jobs annually and the security of lives and property are national emergencies which would be tackled with vigour by his administration within its first few years." The operative words here are"its first few years?" Evidently, Atiku has concluded (even before he wins a first term) that he would 'win" a second (term) as president for a man whose framework is only four years would not make reference to the 'first few years" with the knowledge that there are not too many 'first few years" in a four-year term. But beyond this seemingly inconsequential observation in the grand scheme of things, Atiku cannot possibly create 2.5 million viable and meaningful jobs annually in a four-year term.
How fast can he build industries? How fast can he create well-paying and fulfilling jobs? How fast can the companies and industries absorb the graduates? Can the economy fully absorb ten million new workers without the needed stability and boost? Let us remember well at this hour that Atiku and Obasanjo promised Nigerians five million jobs at the onset of their administration in 1999.
They rallied around this point claiming that with petrol-dollars, it was not only realistic, but also achievable. But achievable it hasn't been; in the last seven years, there have been more unemployed Nigerians than there were before 1999. Graduates from our universities continue to roam the streets with apathy and sorrow as their anthem. Yet, many are underemployed and many more have taken to an assortment of menial tasks to assure their continued stay in the land of the living. A few months ago, I read of the plight of a young female mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Lagos who due to the dearth of jobs, became a mechanic on the often treacherous Lagos streets. It is safe to assume that this particular graduate did not go through the walls of the university to end up as a street mechanic but for failed promises such as these.The Niger-Delta will continue to be the bane of instability to any administration that comes after the present one.
Even as he sets his agenda for his campaign, the Vice-President does not seem to have an appreciable grasp of the crust of the Niger- Delta problem. He proposes a bumper-sticker solution to a worsening crisis that has the potential of crippling the nation's economic base. The issue with the Niger-Delta is not the creation of jobs, the building of schools and the generous disbursement of scholarships, but rather, the empowerment of the indigenes for economic and to a large extent, political self-determination. If Atiku becomes president and he insists on building schools, he shall have them in abundance, but he would not have built a lasting peace. Seemingly, the Vice- President failed woefully to proffer any meaningful solutions to our deplorable educational system, which has pitifully become an international disgrace.
•Dr Tam-Al-Alalibo, a social critic, writes from Virginia, USA.
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