Peter Obi, the PDP Presidential candidate, is fit and proper to put the country on the right path, writes Esin Etim Esin
By his own admission, incumbent
President Muhammadu Buhari has acknowledged publicly that the Nigerian
economy is in a bad shape. This is what several expert opinions within
and outside the country have been saying; and we thank God for
government’s break from its habitual practice of the blame game against
past administrations. All indices generated from credible institutions,
including
the National Bureau of Statistics [NBS] point to a parlous
state of the economy and the corresponding urgent imperative for proven
competent management to take us out of the woods.
Who on earth will be comfortable with
these facts and figures? The NBS in December 2018 reported that
Nigeria’s official unemployment figure has risen from 18.8% in the last
year or so to a scarier 23.1%; with additional 3.3 million people
unemployed; the tertiary education tier now releases nearly one million
educated youths into a job market that can barely absorb 10 per cent of
them. Graduates from other tiers do not even seem to count anymore. The
Debt Management Office [DMO] revealed that Nigeria has a total debt
stock of some N22.7 trillion [convert with any exchange rate of your
choice] and services the debt with over 50% of its revenue.
Loans granted by Nigerian banks account
for a measly 15% of the nation’s GDP, according to a World Bank Report
on domestic credit to the private sector. The Brookings Institution
reports that Nigeria has the highest number of poor persons at 87
million, which is growing by six persons per minute. The ranking of
Nigeria’s Human Development Index declined from 152 to 157 in 2018.
Similarly, Nigeria’s Global Competitiveness Index rating fell from 124
to 127. Among many other facts and figures, there are also deplorable
ratings for the country on critical issues as ‘stress’, ‘out-of-school
children’, ‘budgetary allocations to health and education’ as well as
outrageous payments on ‘fuel subsidy’ and ‘inflated costs of
administration’.
Meaningful development of any human
society is rooted in a virile economy. It is on the foundation of a
strong, progressive economy that the political, social and other sectors
can lay any claim to stability and recognition. This is an established
fact of modern economies.
From the appalling state of the Nigerian
economy, it is noticeable the conduct of the nation’s affairs has not
demonstrated sound understanding of what it takes to manage a modern
economy. The lack of synergy between and among all tiers of government
is palpable as idiosyncrasies of blissful ignorance, insensitivity,
acrimony and vendetta seeming to guide decisions; with millions of
hapless Nigerians looking on in despair.
It is universally acknowledged that a
modern economy prospers on the platform of a highly-efficient
government, an active and enterprising private sector, reliable
infrastructural base, healthy academia as well as a very mobile,
citizen-friendly security apparatus. To coordinate and manage these
critical elements will be an articulate, educated and open-minded
political class complemented by neutral judiciary and virile labour
force.
As Nigerians prepare for the 2019
general election, what should be uppermost in their minds is who is best
equipped to be enthrusted with the affairs of government in 2019.
Easily head and shoulders above all the contenders are Alhaji Atiku
Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].
In all practical ramifications, Atiku
and Obi will bring to governance a unique combination of experience,
exposure and commendable track records in public and private sectors.
Both gentlemen are acknowledged as successful administrators,
entrepreneurs and economic managers. Of particular note here is the role
of the Vice-President in the scheme of things. The vice-president is
constitutionally empowered to literally guide and direct the path of the
economy.
As the running mate to Atiku Abubakar,
the choice of Peter Obi could not have been better timed, as Obi fits
the bill perfectly. He possesses the will, competence and experience to
serve as Chairman of the National Economic Council [NEC], which is the
apex body to formulate policies and programmes for the sustainable and
meaningful development of the Nigerian economy. It is also instructive
to note that he had served as a state governor for eight eventful years.
During his tenure as governor, his colleagues easily elected him
variously as Chairman, South-East Governors’ Forum; Chairman, Southern
Governors’ Forum; and Vice-Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum – though
he was the lone governor from his political party.
That reflects confidence in his
competence. Peter Obi, therefore, knows and has what it takes to
effectively relate with the state governors who constitute majority of
the NEC membership – in the overall national interest and its
constituents. His antecedents in prudent resource management will also
help institutionalise fiscal discipline and responsibility in the
administration of the nation’s commonwealth, including Oil and Gas
Revenues, Excess Crude Oil Account, Petroleum Industry Governance,
Ecological Fund, Solid Minerals, among others.
In the private sector, Peter Obi was a
role model of best practices in business management. Aside from his
university degree and top management training, his membership of cream
professional bodies is revealing: Nigeria Economic Summit Group [NESG],
Chartered Institute of Bankers Nigeria [CIBN], Commonwealth Business
Council [CBC], West African Business Committee [WABC], British Institute
of Directors [IoD], British-Nigeria Business Council [BNBC] and
Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce [NSACC].
In his rich careers in the private
sector and in governance, Peter Obi has accumulated tremendous goodwill
within and outside Nigeria. Internationally, he earned the respect and
partnership of such global operators and development partners as UNICEF,
The World Bank, British Department for International Development
[DfID], UNDP, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Japan
International Co-operation Agency, European Union [EU], USAID, Shelter
Afrique, Cities Alliance Group, UN-Habitat, International Finance
Corporation, WHO, and African Development Bank.
One of the beauties of the Atiku-Obi
team is that they have a full grasp of the issues at stake in the
management of modern economies, which is what good governance is all
about. The final choice rests with the Nigerian electorate, but it is
pertinent that we be reminded that going for the status quo will take us
into regression and eternal regret.
Esin wrote from Kachia, Kaduna State
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