By Ibrahim Habu Suleiman
With just a few months left to the general elections in the country, two parties (out of about ninety registered parties in the country) have emerged as the front runners. A lot has been said about both APC, the governing party at the centre and PDP, the main oppposition party as being one and the same in terms of their ideological bearings. For neutral observers, what strikes the mind first and foremost is the parties’ manifestoes. But their slogans have done much more to distinguish one party from the other.
The PDP’s slogan for 16years from 1999 – 2015, had a commanding slogan had been “PDP – Power”. It said almost everything a person would need to know about its intention – not only to grab the power but also to stay there for onward of sixty years as the party’s spokespersons had intimated. The slogan had little or nothing about what the party intended to do with the power as various PDP administrations pursued different policies in terms of administering and developing the country. For instance, starting with Chief Obasanjo’s administration, Nigerians saw many abandoned projects lying waste because the new administration preferred to start afresh. The most notable of these projects was the power project allegedly estimated at about sixteen billion US dollars started by the Obasanjo/Atiku administration which was abandoned by succeeding PDP administrations. On the other hand APC came with the slogan “Change”. This slogan was adopted, as the party’s co-founders explained, to bring about complete change from the past years of PDP’s misrule. So far the party has worked hard to remain true to its change mantra.
To this end, the APC administration was able to complete the multi-billion dollar Adjaokuta Steel Complex started as far back as the Shehu Shagari administration of the NPN era. Succeeding PDP administrations actually used that famed steel complex only to siphon government monies without showing anything for it. On the contrary many other projects started and abandoned by the PDP have already been completed by the President Buhari-led APC. Such projects include the Abuja-Kaduna modern light rail track which has since been launched by President Buhari, the subway train (metro line) from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the FCT city centre – the first of its kind in Nigeria and a host of others while many other projects are being completed alongside the new infrastructural projects that have become the hallmark of the APC administration. The Treasury Single Account, TSA, which has since been implemented by the APC-led administration under the able leadership of President Buhari, was actually launched by the PDP in 2012, but due to a lack of political will, the programme fizzled out until 2015 when PMB came on board. This has not only increased transparency in public financial management, but has also increased efficiency and ensured accountability and good governance.
It would be recalled that the Minister of Power, Housing and Transport, Babatunde Raji Fashola recently enumerated some of the achievements of the APC administration in just over three and half years to include major infrastructural projects that transcend all states of the federation. The minister disclosed that while the immediate past PDP government left behind a budget of N25.2billion for infrastructure in 2015, the incoming government had a total budget of N529billion for 2017. He pointed out that while the previous PDP governments had at their disposal oil prices averaging at over 100 US dollars per barrel for over a decade, the APC is still battling with oil prices hovering at 40 – 60 US dollars per barrel. So, it is apparent from this submission (and the extents of verifiable projects already executed by the APC) which of the two parties is more committed to serving the interests of the generality of the population instead of the pockets of a few individuals.
It follows therefore that as the 2019 general elections draw nearer the choice between the APC and the PDP as far as the generality of the electorate are concerned would depend on what any of the two parties can offer them. Of course, infrastructural projects are the key to development and the people have seen what the APC has done in just over three and half years in comparison to what the PDP has done in 16 years. Thus in most APC controlled states in the country the level of infrastructural projects is there for everybody to verify. In Nasarawa State, the first civilian governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu (Turakin Keffi) had commended the effort of the CPC/APC government in the state in terms of the level of infrastructural projects provided, noting that the APC has done more than what the PDP has done in twelve years including his own tenure, then under the PDP. There is therefore no doubt that the APC is the party to beat.
President Muhammadu Buhari had itemised three key issues in his campaign ahead of APC’s landslide victory in 2015; they include, ensuring the security of lives and property of all Nigerians, battling corruption in the country and improving the fledgling economy. So far the president has been able to tackle all these issues headlong. At the time of coming to power Boko Haram had foisted their flag in at least three states of the northeast, while suicide attacks had become so rampant across, even in parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Now these insurgents have been contained and they resort to only occasional suicide attacks in the outskirts of Borno and Yobe States. People across the country can now heave a sigh of relief. Corruption is being battled to a standstill; billions of naira have been saved while rounding up corrupt individuals in the public service. The economy bounced back within the shortest time from recession, but a lot more is expected.
Perhaps, it would be naive to expect the APC government to right all the wrongs brought upon Nigerians by the PDP in four years – even with the lower oil prices currently at the international market. That’s why the APC has rightly stepped up its campaign for a second time for President Buhari. Moreover President Muhammadu Buhari’s credibility and integrity have again been tried and his capability to steer the ship of state has been proven beyond doubt, even as doubting Thomases have continued to throw spanners in the wheel of change to slow down the progress.
Needless to say, it would amount to a return to the past years of PDP misrule for ex-VP Atiku Abubakar, the flagbearer of the PDP to be voted into power again. The former vice president together with ex-president Obasanjo not only succeeded in wasting our enormous resources, but also led others in looting the country’s wealth, leading Nigerians to unprecedented misery. The PDP has now adopted a new slogan – “change the change.” They are currently using the billions of naira they looted to lure unsuspecting Nigerians to vote for them come 2019. Enough is Enough.