Arewa expresses mixed feelings over Buhari’s two years in office

Arewa leaders have expressed mixed feelings on the performances of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration after two years in office, while urging the government to meet the yearnings of Nigerians by resuscitating the infrastructure of Nigerian economy.

Besides, the leaders opined that the two years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, in the opinion of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has been a success story, as greater openness, transparency and accountability have been entrenched in the business of governance.

However, they lampooned Buhari’s government over the poor state of the economy, particularly on the decay infrastructure and the inability to improve on the economy, which is presently under recession.

In a statement signed by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Mohammad Ibrahim Biu, the group showered praises on Buhari’s administration for “degrading of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, the release of over 100 Chibok girls that were kidnapped and held in captivity three years ago by the Boko haram terrorists and the re-habilitation of Internally Displaced Persons are practical achievements in the area of security.”

While commending the efforts of the Military and other security agencies in tackling insecurity nationwide is also commendable, Alhaji Biu said, “on the anti-corruption crusade, the agencies responsible have lived up to their responsibilities with the arrest and prosecution of suspected public treasury looters.

“The whistle blower policy of the government has also yielded positive results with the discoveries of stolen public funds hidden in banks, homes, farms and obscure places and the forfeiture of such monies to the Federal Government. However, there is the need to strengthen the anti-corruption agencies through legislation and quick dispensation of justice by the Courts.”

Biu, however, said, “on the infrastructural development, the government need to do more, especially on the rehabilitation and building of roads, completion of vital projects such as the Baro Port Terminal, Mambila Power Station, Kano- Maiduguri dual carriage way, Calabar- Jalingo-Biu-Maiduguri trunk A road, Kano-Lagos Railway and many others in view of their economic values and direct bearing on the lives of the people.”

According to him, “the power privatisation arrangement concluded three years ago has not yielded the desired result,” stressing, “Power being the driver of the economic has been erratic and low.”

ACF had earlier called on the Federal Government to take necessary and practical steps to improve the power supply including reviewing the privatization. “The Senate has of recent taken the same position by asking the Government to reverse the privatization of the power sector in view of the inability of the private entrepreneurs to improve power supply and distribution. Government should also put in place a policy framework that will encourage private investments in the renewable energy sector to compliment the thermal and hydro generating plants,” he said.

On employment and the economy, ACF spokesman explained, “the Government N-power programme, Social Investment Project, diversification in agriculture and solid minerals, recruitment into the Military, Police Force and other security agencies are commendable efforts to reduce unemployment and also boast the economy,” adding: “Nigerians need to know the fate of the $30bn loan needed to reflate the economy through massive expenditure and increase in supply of forex thereby exiting the recession. In this respect, we need to see better working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature for good governance.”

Arewa leaders added:” Governments at States and Local Government levels need to do more to improve the welfare of the citizenry, through empowerment and poverty reduction programme, compulsory education, skills acquisition and also support for micro, small and medium enterprises.”