Human Rights activist and Constitutional lawyer, Mr. Festus Okoye spoke on the performances of President Muhammadu Buhari’s one year in office. He also dwelt on the practice of federalism in Nigeria in this interview with Saxone Akhaine. Excerpts:
Assessment of the Buhari’s administration
The Buhari Administration came to power at a difficult period in the history of the country. It came to power when the country was on autopilot. It came to power when those entrusted with the administration of the country were behaving as if they needed to loot and finish the war booty and vacate.
The administration came to power when the price of crude oil in the international market was at its lowest ebb and when there was serious security challenges.
The administration came to power when the Nigerian people were no longer sure of their future and the direction of the country. The Nigerian people lived in fear of their tomorrow and what it portends for them and their children. The Nigerian people were convinced that their government was no longer able to provide for their welfare and their security. Unfortunately, it seems the Buhari’s government underestimated the level of damages done to the country and this possibly accounts for the lack of coherence in terms of its policies and programs.
Meeting the aspirations of the people
It is difficult to make a categorical statement on whether the government has met the aspirations of the Nigerian people in terms of good governance. The government has been in office for barely one year. The administration is still struggling to understand the dynamics of the damage done to the economy. It has instituted a broad anti corruption program wherein billions of naira has been recovered.
It has also brought to the fore the systematic looting of the Nigerian economy and how money meant for our armed forces to fight against terrorism was looted and our soldiers and people killed in thousands and displaced. It is important for the government to get organised and fill all the vacant positions in the boards of its agencies and parastatals. It is also important for it to roll out a coherent economic agenda that addresses the challenges of the poor and the vulnerable.
It must communicate effectively. The regime must also get the Nigerian people to appreciate the fact that change will be painful considering the damage done to the country. The regime must be honest with Nigerians and acknowledge the gap between its electoral promises and governance. I am confident that the Nigerian people are resilient and will continue to support the government and its policies if they see honesty in governance and sacrifice in governance.
Economic policies of the government
I broadly support the efforts of the government in getting those that looted our commonwealth to account. I am also of the view that the recovery of such funds and holding the looters to account must be done transparently and within the ambit of the law and the constitution. I support measures to shore up the economy but the big challenge is that the regime is not communicating well. Moreover, the issue of price
modulation in the oil sector or the removal of fuel subsidy and or liberalization of the oil and gas regime was not properly handled.
There is so much poverty in the land and if a drastic measure like increase in the pump price of fuel must be taken, the government ought to have paid attention to the poverty level in the country and do things that will not lead to further frustration and pauperization of the Nigerian people. The Nigerian people are still in shock and the reverberations of the increase will take time to sink in. What the Nigerian people expect from the Buhari administration is a comprehensive and coherent economic policy that addresses their concerns and ameliorates their poverty and vulnerability.
Practice of federalism in Nigeria:
The Nigerian people want to live and be governed under a federal arrangement. The Nigerian people are in support of the fact that the country must remain a federal republic where the centre and the states share power.
However, the Nigerian people are not yet comfortable with the States assuming control of certain things because of the prevalence of impunity.
The Nigerian people still want the police to remain a federal agency or concern. The Nigerian people still want governorship and State Assembly elections to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Nigerian people have realized and understand that the practice of federalism must take into account the history, culture, values and dynamics of a particular country. Our federalism is Nigerian federalism and not textbook federalism.
