Nigeria will be great again!

Nigeria is truly a great country. We are blessed abundantly with both natural and human resources. We are blessed with very hard working people, who if given a little opportunity will excel in any endeavour. But the opportunities are simply not available. We have the will and the capacity to do better and improve our lives, but the environment is not conducive for such.

In every society, social change is driven by a particular subset of that society. Today, this change for a new Nigeria is driven by the youth. This group is made up of young people; school leavers, job seekers, young professionals, and technocrats, whose collective dream is to see a better Nigeria. The older generation may claim that the young lack experience but time has shown this to be false.

When Obama came out and ran for the American presidency, he was said to be too young; that he lacked experience. His opponent, John McCain, was assumed better suited for the job, with years of political experience and a sitting governor for a running mate! The change that swept America, swept them away. When Louis Ignacio Da Silva of Brazil ran for president in his country, he too was assumed to be too young, and inexperienced. Today, the change he wrought in Brazil has seen the Brazilian economy soar and country move from international back stage to the limelight.

Today, in Nigeria, there are people who also see Nuhu Ribadu, the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as being too young and inexperienced. But Nuhu Ribadu is the epitome of the youth; a champion for the dream of a new Nigeria. He believes that if the youth are properly integrated into our leadership processes and become part of it, that Nigeria will be a better place for everyone.

For a leader to truly champion a cause, he/she must believe in the cause. Nuhu Ribadu represents a visionary and dedicated leadership, determined to change the fortunes of Nigerians for the better. For despite all our God-given natural and human resources, Nigeria still lags behind in the comity of nations. There are many issues requiring attention in Nigeria, the most pressing being youth unemployment. Young people 30 years old and below make up 70% of Nigeria's population, yet youth unemployment is rampant. Up to 50-60% of our graduates are unemployed, to the point where parents and children now question the value of education.

The Nigerian economy is performing below its potential and is not creating enough jobs for our fast growing youth population. Though the economy is growing at around 6% per annum, it could grow at a much faster pace and more importantly it could create more jobs if the right policies are pursued.

The economy has to be managed with fiscal prudence so that our expenditure does not exceed our revenues. The fiscal deficit kept at 3% of GDP from 2003-2007 has now doubled to 6%, implying a great deal of spending without much impact or results on the ground. At the end of 2008, the Excess Crude Account (ECA) had the equivalent of US$20 billion in savings to cushion the country against a "rainy day".

Much of that money has now been shared between federal, state and local governments. What is left is less than US$500 million. Our foreign exchange reserves have come down from a peak of more than US$50 billion a couple of years ago to US$38 billion now. Our domestic debt has climbed to the level of Naira3.76 trillion or the equivalent of US$25 billion (from DMO website as of June 30 2010).

This in an abuse fiscal responsibility and it has serious impact on our domestic economy, especially as some of the states borrowing may not be in a position to fully service their debt. All the borrowing and use of our domestic revenues has not led to better services on the ground. The position of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is that we must budget within our means and keep overspending to a minimum. This means bringing the fiscal deficit back to 3% of GDP.

The Ribadu Plan seeks to bring our foreign exchange reserves to a robust level of US$50 billion or more; and work for a steady and attainable economic growth rate of 7-8% per year for the next five years and 8-10% per year for the years following that. This growth must be job-creating growth focused on both the oil and non-oil sectors of the economy. It will invest in infrastructure, in health and education, and in creating the enabling environment for investment in all key sources of growth in the economy, particularly agriculture, the extractive industry, manufacturing, housing and construction, financial services, information and communication technology (ICT), as well as arts and culture, and the entertainment industry.

That is the challenge facing us in the second half of the Nigerian century; and that is the challenge Mallam Ribadu will address if he becomes president.

-By Deshola Komolafe

Young Nigerians Finally Earn a Seat at the Table in Deciding Their Political Future; Mr. Nuhu Ribadu (ACN) Voted Winner of the What About Us? Debate

Abuja, Nigeria (PRWEB) April 2, 2011

About a week ago, on March 25th, a coalition of Nigerian youth advocacy groups bearing the moniker "What About Us?" hosted Nigeria's first ever youth-centered presidential debate at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Center in Abuja. Hosted by Big Brother Africa alumnus Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, and moderated by world renowned novelist Chimamanda Adichie, the debate featured questions crowd-sourced from young Nigerians around the world using email submissions, SMS short code and Google Moderator.
Based on a poll that ran on http://www.whataboutusnigeria.org, seven candidates were invited to engage in a direct dialogue with Nigeria’s youth, who account for more than 70 percent of the population. While Reverend Chris Okotie (FDP), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (CPC) and President Goodluck Jonathan (PDP) chose to be absent, three of the selected candidates, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP), Mr. Nuhu Ribadu (CAN), and Chief Dele Momodu (NCP), were in attendance. Professor Pat Utomi (SDMP) who had initially accepted the debate invitation, apologized for pulling out due to extenuating circumstances.
The event was broadcast live on Channels TV and simulcast on the web powered by YouTube, allowing viewers across the globe to watch the event unfold in real time. Following, viewers cast their vote for ACN candidate, Mr. Ribadu, as the winner of the debate with 57 percent, Mallam Shekarau followed suit with 36 percent and Chief Momodu earned the remainder 9 percent.
“This was a major first step for Nigeria – not just for us. By sitting silent for so long, we have allowed our leaders to take advantage of our apathy but that stops now. The mission behind 'What About Us?' was to give the youth a voice in the political process, empowering us to better understand the issues that most affect our lives and enabling us to hold leaders accountable on the promises they make on the campaign trail. Whether we go out to vote on April 9th, tweet or use our mobile phones to report fraud at the polling booths or encourage friends and family to vote wisely in person or on Facebook, we must continue to play our role and reclaim our stake – because with more than 50 percent of the vote, IT IS ABOUT US,” the group said in a joint statement.
Several prestigious universities in Nigeria and abroad hosted viewings of the debate including the University of Abuja and Columbia University in New York. Media outlets including Sahara Reporters, Voice of America, and Bella Naija also streamed the debate live to a global audience.
About the “What About Us?” Campaign
What About Us? is a NON-PARTISAN coalition of several youth empowerment groups and blogs, including Vote or Quench, Enough is Enough Nigeria, Sleeves Up, and Stand Up Naija, calling for the first-ever presidential youth centered debate in Nigeria. The group's mission started on January 11th, 2011, with the #IfNaijaVotes donate your status initiative, prompting Nigerians across the globe to voice their predictions on the nation’s prospects if free and fair elections are held, The group sought out to further educate the Nigerian youth on the missions and motives of presidential aspirants through the debate and will continue to collaborate on various initiatives to drive voter awareness and participation.
The debate sponsors were Yar’Adua Center, Youtube, DigiPrints, RCCG City of David, CBC EMEA (Nigeria), Hawthorn Suites, Smoothie Heaven, Hi-TV, Trinity House, & Guiding Light Assembly.
More details on participating groups for the initiative can be found on our website, whataboutusnigeria.org or Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/whataboutusnigeria.

Response to General Muhammadu Buhari and his Party by Nasir El Rufai - 'Buhari should stick to facts'

The attention of Mallam Nassir El-Rufai has been drawn to statements from Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida purporting to be responses to the advice he gave both men to retire.

Since Babangida libelled whole generations of Nigerian youth as being unfit for leadership, age has become an issue in the coming elections. While it is true that neither youth nor age supplies wisdom on their own, it makes sense to ask those who have been recurring decimals in our country’s sorry history to leave the stage. That is all El-Rufai asked of these men who seem to think that their failure to do their best for Nigeria when they had the chance qualifies them for a return to office. Our people surely deserve better.

El-Rufai is amazed that General Buhari cannot debate this matter without scurrying to the gutter, making claims that are baseless and unsupported by any facts. Mallam El-Rufai’s tenure as FCT minister was a period of stellar performance in remaking our federal capital. Despite the difficult decisions that had to be taken to restore Abuja, Mallam El-Rufai continues to receive deserved praise and recognition for his achievements in restoring the Abuja master plan, introducing Nigeria’s first computerised land registry and helping thousands of Nigerians achieve their dreams of home ownership in the federal capital. Buhari is perhaps one of a tiny few blinded by their prejudice from recognising the quality of El Rufai’s service.

That same prejudice accounts for the baseless claims of corruption Buhari levels against El Rufai. The fact is that Mallam El-Rufai served Nigeria with integrity and has never been convicted of any corrupt act. He is boldly contesting the false charges which the Yar’Adua government filed against him in court. It is strange that a Buhari who protests when unproven claims of N2.5 billion (about US $3billion in those days!) missing oil funds are levelled against him can gleefully elevate similar claims into facts when it concerns another. How would Buhari feel if the corruption allegations made against him by Group Captain Usman Jibrin, then a board member of PTF, are today reported as if they were proven facts? So much for “corrupt background” and “shoddy performance”.

Mallam El-Rufai wishes to remind General Buhari that he has remained perpetually unelectable because his record as military head of state, and afterwards, is a warning that many Nigerians have wisely heeded. His insensitivity to Nigeria’s diversity and his parochial focus are already well-known. In 1984, Buhari allowed 53 suitcases belonging to his ADC’s father to enter Nigeria unchecked at a time the country was exchanging old currency for new. Against all canons of legal decency, he used retroactive laws to execute three young men for drug-peddling after they were convicted by a military tribunal and not regular courts of law. Buhari was so high handed that he gave himself and his officials immunity even from truthful reporting. That obnoxious Decree 4, against which truth was no defence, was used to jail journalists and attempt to cow the media as a whole. That tyrannical legislation shows the essence of his intolerance. These are facts of recent history.

The story of counter-trade and import licensing, the cornerstone of Buhari’s stone-age economic strategy and those whose interests it served, is a tale for another day.

Mallam El-Rufai respects both Generals Buhari and Babangida as elder statesmen. He believes their age, experience and guidance may contribute to the success of any future government. El-Rufai however believes that it is time for a new generation of leaders with new thinking and wholesome democratic attitude to move our nation forward. The vicious response by the Buhari camp to a simple statement that their almost-70 principal should retire is proof enough that a Buhari, the new Democrat, tolerant of views different from his own, is yet to evolve. And that is sad, for his fledgling party and its leadership. Buhari and his cohorts may wish to reflect that it will take more than attacks on personalities to become electable. Having seen his version of discipline, Nigerians are not likely to cherish an encore. But they will welcome an engagement with the issues and problems of everyday life that have hobbled the peoples of this land.

Muyiwa Adekeye
Media Adviser to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai
October 4, 2010