Opinion: My blueprint for Change- a must read for GMB

by Femi Royal

We know that government cannot solve all our problems neither can they alleviate all our burdens. One thing is needful of our government, that they be pro-activ…

I recall that what defines APC is change as against PDP which is power. I also recall that APC has in her past campaigns place a distinction between the worst conditions Nigeria face while power prevailed and how it would appear when APC assumes power. This is Change.

As a Nigerian, who has had terrible experiences characterised by tough sufferings due to the harsh actions of government on my parents having to retrench him not considering the fact that he was a bread winner. I think I have the slightest idea of what the average Nigerian request of the government. I hope to define it through this piece.

A lexicographer of a webster dictionary defined a blueprint as a detailed plan of how to do something, in essence, he/she corroborates the saying, ‘he that fails to plan is planning to fail’, hence a Blueprint is a necessity for APC to effect change under the Leadership of Buhari/Osibanjo.

Well, while I followed her campaigns in the past, I noticed she likely want to major in the minor and minor in the major which on the long run might not witness adequate sustainability.

I recall that, all primary school students have been promised one free meal a day, in my opinion, this might not be the best approach as many parents might not allow their kids to take food in school, in a bid to protect their kids from eating harmful foods. I’m sensing that some school’s head would not deploy adequate mercenary to make this achievable. This is reality in the real sense. What if the allocation for state welfare is greatly depleted, Nigerians might not welcome any explanation for missing a day of promise as she holds the incoming government in high esteem for her integrity.

I recall that corpers have been promised allowances in form of stipends for a year after service. This might be cool for many who hopes to be dependent on the state. In my honest opinion, lethargy might come into play by the people in question. It might reduce the zest for entrepreneurship by this young minds though with exceptions.

This and many more are the reasonable promises of the incoming government which I see as minor at present. I want to borrow from the words of Jesus, 2000 years ago: ‘seek ye first the kingdom of God and other things shall be added’. In the sincerity of heart to the incoming government, I say that when some things are in place, all this might not be a challenge to do’.

I read on a friend’s timeline on facebook just yesterday about what the fear of Buhari has prompted… Its the beginning of Nigerian Systems’ sanitation. Check out the headlines:

• Nigerian Army finds Buhari’s certificate


• Missing $20b found with Zenith Bank


• NTA now calling GMB masters degree holder


• Deziani Allison-Madueke visits Former Head of State,Abdulsalami Abubakar


• Industrial Training Fund (ITF) began payment of outstandings they have been students for more than 2yrs


• Nigeria Stock Market recorded a gain of N906b, biggest gain in 50yrs


• Naira made a gain of N27 against the dollar; now N170 to a dollar, and N280 to a pound

This is a great advantage to the APC. Corruption is on the verge of being overturned.

I believe that Nigerians are hardworking people and if given a good environment, they can be the most exceptional in their capacity. We cannot quickly forget the Nigerian who built the fastest computer, Dr Phillip Emeagwali. We lack this environment and if created, development can be guaranteed.

Can we have this environment where favouritism is not the focus (we are from the same state) but Merit (he deserves it).

Can there be real job creation and not job creation by statistics (2 million jobs yet unemployment is high). This will keep graduates and non-graduates busy and useful to themselves.

Can we encourage avid industrialisation whereby companies will be opened with respect to our natural resources. We are blessed as one of the countries with the highest number of natural resources. This resouces alone can attract investors and can open up job opportunities. I learnt a single refinery can create 120,000 jobs. We have 3 which are not in working-condition yet America has at least 1 in her over 50 states, why won’t we continue to export our crudeoil for refining. The vast land in the Nigeria is cool for Agriculture, can we have more resources pumped into this sectors and monitored?

Young minds are embracing capitalism in their best possible capacity but its most demanding in Nigeria. Someone said, ‘if a business is started at the same time in Nigeria and in the United States, the US-managed business is already 5-years older’. Imagine! This is because the bureucracy that is there for registration, fund security etc is too enormous. Taxation is uneven and outrageous. That’s why the average life span of any business is 2 years in Nigeria before it is declared bankrupt. No matter how we support corpers with cash. Once this persist, it will continue to be the same, change would not have been establsihed.

Can we have funds provided to support NGO. I understand that CBN, SMEDAN etc are available to do this but we can see for ourselves that this funds are rathered pocketed than used for their original purposes.

Can we have community based support where funds would be pumped to CDAs to be accessed by community youths for business support and mentoring, by this we are reaching the grassroot.

Can we review our scholarship schemes for students that will encourage students to be at their best rather than cater for all? We can encourage academic merit by this means.

We know that government cannot solve all our problems neither can they alleviate all our burdens. One thing is needful of our government, that they be pro-active at creating an enabling environment for poverty alleviation and by this mean encouraging overall growth and development of Nigeria and Nigerians.

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– Femi Royal is a political commentator and Leadership Expert who writes from Abeokuta. he tweets from @phemlad

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

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