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For impact, tackle insecurity, dwindling economy within first year, Tinubu advised   

By Olawunmi Ojo
07 May 2023   |   2:40 am
To make lasting impact on Nigerians within the first year of his administration, the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been advised to focus on tackling the twin challenge of dwindling economy and insecurity.

To make lasting impact on Nigerians within the first year of his administration, the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been advised to focus on tackling the twin challenge of dwindling economy and insecurity.
 
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and House of Representatives aspirant in Yewa North/Imeko-Afon federal constituency in Ogun State, Engr. Gbenga Akinwande, while speaking with The Guardian, said that with the level of hopelessness in the country at the moment, Tinubu must find a way of resolving the two major challenging issues to arrest the despondency among the population.
 
He specifically noted that in his first year in office, the president-elect must find a way to improve the economy through programmes and projects that will create jobs across the country.
 
He said: “Most central to this economic development is improvement in the power and energy sector. Industries and domestic users should be able to enjoy a minimum of 18 hours of uninterrupted power supply daily. He should also roll out massive road and infrastructure projects, which will create both temporary and permanent jobs for all ages all over the country.”
 


Akinwande counseled Tinubu to ensure he runs the country as a socio-economic enterprise and not as a business enterprise, because running the country, as a business enterprise will only benefit the monopolists, thereby widening the gap between the rich and the poor.
 
“When he runs it as a socio-economic enterprise, citizens’ engagement will be encouraged, with equity and fairness to both the rich and the poor”.

It is imperative for the president-elect to know that Nigeria needs visionary leaders like Franklin Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Winston Churchill, and most particularly, the visionary ideologies of Obafemi Awolowo.
 
“He should focus greater attention on agriculture for both domestic consumption and export. Farm machinery, implements, land, fertilisers, and loans at a low single-digit interest rate should be made available to farmers, particularly young people who should be encouraged to go into crop farming, livestock and animal husbandry,” he said.
 


He emphasised that the president-elect should ensure that before the end of 2023, local council autonomy becomes a reality, and by the first quarter of 2024, elections into the local councils are conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while all state electoral commissions across the country are outlawed.
 
Akinwande also called for a state of emergency on security and a overhaul of the country’s security architecture. “We need to reform the police force, both personnel and equipment, while recruitment into all the security arms should be essential,” he added.
 
The APC chieftain also called for attention on research and development, with a complete overhaul of the nation’s educational systems.                         
Akinwande also applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his bravery regarding his assent to the power bill, noting that it was a bold step that will help the country on the long run. “I am also happy with the emergence of Tinubu as the next president because he is a man of foresight and vision. He started that the Enron’s power project during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State. If not for politics of envy and bitterness, Lagos State will be selling electricity to other states and countries by now.”

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