Nigeria: The Challenges Before Yar'Adua (i)

10 May 2007
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Lagos — As at today, it is not clear whether any of the expected election petitions on the presidential polls has been filed. But the presidential election petition tribunal has not started sitting. What this means is that Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua will most likely be sworn in as the president of Nigeria by May 29. It is therefore safe to start talking of what agenda should be pursued by the man who will become president 18 days from today.

The challenge before Yar'Adua will be two-fold. First, there will be the policy or programme challenge and the attitude challenge. The policy challenge should first be enumerated. The most important issue that should be on the agenda of the next president is the Niger-Delta crisis, which is threatening the nation's oil supply to the international market. The problem in the Niger-Delta is not just about its impact on the nation's economy, which depends mainly on oil. The issue is about the injustice that the area represents in the polity. The land, which produces the food, which the rest of the country feeds on is filled with people who are hungry because they have been deliberately denied access to the food basket. The anger and disatisfaction have led to violent reactions and, sometimes, sheer criminal activities. Today, the outburst and protest against the long years of oppression is posing serious threat to national security. That is why Yar'Adua must make it a priority to solve the problem in this area. My suggestion on how to solve the problem is that the government should immediately begin massive but frugal and well supervised investment in infrastructural facilities, which can have direct and immediate impact in the lives of the people in the area. Nobody will quarrel with massive investment in health, education, electricity, road and water transportation, provision of potable water and other facilities, which will enhance the standard of living of people in the area and further lead to human capacity development. Such huge, but well directed investment in infrastructure will yield another advantage, which is mass employment and growth of commercial activities. The locals will provide construction workers, suppliers of construction items and will be involved in the maintenance of those facilities. The people of the area who are engaged and being paid wages will have to purchase other essential goods and services, which will also be provided by their other kinsmen and women. In this manner, the money circulates and wealth is spread among the impoverished people. The atmosphere that will result from this conscious development efforts will be one in which those who are not criminally minded have good alternatives to earn a living. It also will restore people's confidence in the government and make it easier for the criminals to be isolated from the genuine agitators. The application of the law to deal with any anti-social behaviour becomes possible.

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