Speech by Atiku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2nd Annual Nigeria Diaspora Leadership Summit, London School of Economics, 4 September 2013.
As originally prepared for delivery – Due to scheduling difficulties, speech has been cancelled.
I am not sure a politician is the right person to ask whether the political will exists in a country to accomplish a particular task. This is more so when that politician is not holding any executive or even legislative position. Perhaps your request that I speak on this topic is informed by my having occupied a senior position in government in the past and my continuing to express strong views about our country, our democracy and governance.
It is not a simple question to answer though. Am I supposed to answer whether the current government in Nigeria has the political will to move us to a post-oil economy? Am I to answer whether there is another Nigerian or group of Nigerians with the political will to push us in that direction? Or am I to answer whether Nigerians, collectively, have the political will to make that transition or demand and ensure it is made?
I believe there is a wide consensus in Nigeria on the need for us to transition to a post-oil economy, by which is meant an economy with a significantly reduced dependence on crude oil revenues. In such an economy a major decline in oil revenues, for instance, will have some impact on the economy and the nation’s fiscal health, but not in a manner that becomes a national crisis. It means that in such an economy, oil may continue to be important but will no longer occupy its preeminent and suffocatingly dominant place in our national accounts. It will be a diversified economy where agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing, and services are, at least, as important to the economy and government revenues as oil rents.
There is nothing wrong with oil if a country’s development is balanced, that is if the other sectors of the economy make significant contributions to the country’s revenues, expenditure and employment profiles. Taken together, the various sectors should enable the country to rely more on internally generated revenue, especially taxation. The United States, Canada, Brazil, and United Kingdom are not discussing a transition to a post-oil economy; they are not complaining. They are important oil producers, but their economies are relatively diversified.
The potential for oil revenues to distort an economy and society is huge. In Nigeria for instance, three states account for 80% of the oil production. Oil accounts for 90% of export and 95% of government revenues, respectively. The oil industry contributes little in direct employment relative to its contribution to government revenues. The technology used on oil production is almost entirely foreign. The oil industry operates as a virtual enclave; an enclave of affluence by mostly foreign firms, which contribute 94% of total oil production.
Politically, oil money is easy money, as governments do not need to go to the people for revenues in the form of taxation. Thus internally generated revenue sources, especially taxation, are neglected and contribute very little to government revenues. And, a source of the crisis in the Nigerian society and politics is the question of revenue allocation among the federating states with the bulk of the revenues going to the small number of states contributing the most to government revenues. The tensions generated by this imbalance would be less if the sources of government revenues were diverse, both in content and in geography.
So what needs to be done for Nigeria to transition to a post-oil economy? And how can political will emerge and be sustained in order for that transition to be enduring and beneficial to our people and our country? I will situate my presentation within the context of our experiences with the oil economy and what preceded it.
Nigeria’s Oil Economy
From colonial times, to the discovery of oil in Oloibiri in 1956 and the end of civil war in 1970, the mainstay of the Nigerian economy was agriculture. The export proceeds of agricultural produce accounted for the bulk of government revenues. The most important agricultural produce were groundnuts, cocoa, palm oil and rubber. The federal system, which we inherited at independence, was such that allowed the regions to retain the autonomy to raise revenues, promote development, and conduct their affairs as they saw fit, while engaging in healthy competition with others.
However, the emergence of military rule and the intervening civil war led to the splintering and weakening of the federating units and centralisation of resources and concentration of power at the federal level. The increasing significance of oil in the revenue profile of the country was a major driving force for these. The central government, awash with cash, proceeded to assume an increasingly dominant role in the economy and society. It assumed more responsibilities for infrastructure provisioning, educational and social services expansion and international relations and diplomacy, especially on the African continent.
As Vice President and chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, I was stunned to see firsthand the manner of businesses the federal government was involved in. These included not just such capital-intensive industries as steel and petrochemicals factories, but brick making factories and bakeries as well. And, as we know, these enterprises hardly made any money. Rather they were being subsidised by the budget. As the government’s role expanded, the private sector was crowded out and private initiative, innovation and creativity suffered.
The excessive dependence on oil revenues led to the collapse of the agriculture-based economy. It also exposed the Nigerian economy to volatile market swings, booms and bursts. And it brought with it enormous social consequences, such as wealth without labour, generations of youth accustomed to aspiring to be employed by others, rather than thinking of creating jobs for themselves and others. It also led to the neglect of the internally generated revenue (IGR), especially taxation. Today only Lagos State is able to generate up to 50% of its revenues from IGR, thereby reducing its dependence on allocations from Abuja.
For as long as oil money flowed, it seemed like everything was fine. But by the mid-1980s our economy virtually collapsed and we are still grappling with the consequences of that shock, including the continuing decline in the value of our national currency, the Naira, high inflation rate, high unemployment, crime, violence and other social vices.
But perhaps the most destructive impact of our dependence on oil is the corruption it has fostered, even at the very heart of our economic lifeline. There is indeed little transparency and accountability in our oil industry as various investigative reports have shown. A recent report by Oil Tracking Initiative highlights the persistent discrepancies in figures provided by the CBN, Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI), OPEC and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative relating to Nigeria’s oil production, export, revenues, and remittances to government treasury. However, there has been no serious attempt to reconcile those.
For instance, oil production figures from 2007-2012 show significant differences among these data sources, with OPEC figures tending to be roughly 12% less than those of the CBN. Also while JODI indicates that Nigeria exported 4.1 million barrels of oil in that period, the figure from the CBN is 3.4 million barrels, a difference of roughly 20%. And according to the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, what the Nigerian government said it had received from oil companies as royalty payment in the period 2006 – 2011 is $440m less than what the oil companies said they had paid in. And I am sure you are aware of the running squabbles between the National Assembly and the NNPC (and other revenue agencies) over discrepancies in figures of revenues generated and remitted to government.
Indeed the sector is characterised by underreporting of volumes, oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal bunkering (stealing of crude along the transport, storage or export routes by a network of people and vessel handlers), illegal refineries, corrupt individuals, community leaders, politicians, industry workers and so on.
There are even discrepancies regarding the number of oil fields allocated between 2011 and 2013. As of April 2013, the Department of Petroleum Resources placed the total number of oil blocks in Nigeria at 388, out of which 173 have been awarded – 90 to indigenous companies and 83 to the international oil companies (IOC). The remaining 215 are yet to be awarded. But according to Deep Prospects Concession Maps 2011, 89 oil fields are owned by IOCs; local and independent operators own 51 fields, while 114 are yet to be allocated.
It is no surprise that we are ranked among the worst countries in resource governance (40th out of 58 countries with a score of 42 out of 100). Our four refineries constantly under-perform, so the country imports approximately 85% of refined products to satisfy local demand and has paid subsidies to fuel importers for decades. In 2012 alone, fuel importers were paid $8.2bn to subsidise the pump price of petrol. This amount is more than the combined allocation to education, health and agriculture in the 2013 budget. This misguided policy and misplaced priority ensure that we are not investing in human capital development and the productive sectors of the economy. Thus we lag behind in human development index. For instance, 70% of our population live below the poverty line compared to 21.4% for Brazil, 40.5% for Angola and 0% for Norway, to mention a few comparable oil producing countries.
Nigeria Beyond Oil
Taken together, these features of our oil economy justify the urgency of a shift to a post-oil economy. The consequences of not making such a transition were already known by the time Nigeria became an oil producing country.
To me, the transition to a post oil economy is not rocket science. We do not have to reinvent the wheel. Examples abound of how to get out of or at least reduce dependence on oil or other natural resources or to build an economy without a base of natural resource endowment in the first place. Singapore, UAE, Japan, U.S. and Canada are prime examples. Indeed some of these countries are resource rich, including being large oil producers (e.g. U.S and Canada, UK), but they never really allowed themselves to become dependent on oil (or other resources export) revenues to the detriment of the other sectors of their economies.
We simply need to get people busy, working, thinking, creating, and building things. It is what we do with our oil wealth or what we allow it to do to us that is the issue. We should use oil revenues now to build for the post-oil period: infrastructure, education and training, security and peace-building. We must privatise non-competitive public enterprises, improve justice delivery, provide sensible, clear and predictable regulations and incentives for private investors, enforce property rights, enthrone the rule of law, tackle corruption and promote accountability.
These, in my view, should be done now to prepare for the post-oil economy. In fact we do not even need to brand it a post-oil economy. Our economy can generate huge revenues from oil while also generating huge revenues from other sources, including manufacturing and services. That is how it is in the more advanced economies: Britain, US, Norway, and emerging powerhouse, Brazil, to mention a few. The US is a net importer of oil so it tends to escape many people that it is the third largest oil producer in the world and is projected to become the largest in a few years’ time. Yet, the US is also the leading industrial power in the world and the world’s leader in scientific and technological innovation.
After 55 years of oil production and export we should be producing technology that assists in oil exploration and exploitation. We should be refining our petroleum to satisfy domestic demand and for export markets. We should be a leader in the production of petrochemicals and petroleum derivatives including plastics, polymer, fertiliser, motor oils, and other allied products. We should be able to provide the incentives and regulatory framework for massive private sector investments in solid minerals’ exploitation, a sector in which our government has identified 34 such minerals in commercial quantities. We should be the leader in cassava, cocoa, palm oil and rubber exports and agro-allied industry. Up to 85% of our land is arable so we can be a leader in agriculture. And we should provide the necessary infrastructure and incentives to attract manufacturing investment and jobs into our country. Ultimately, if we do not industrialise, especially in these areas where we have comparative advantage, we will remain a backwater economy whatever the quantity of primary produce we export.
We should be doing all of these things by now, but it requires the political will to change. Nigeria has been on the wrong track for far too long. It is time for experienced leaders to change our course toward the economic powerhouse we know we should be.
A post-oil economy for Nigeria, therefore, will require:
- A smaller, leaner federal government with reduced responsibilities;
- A tax- focused revenue base;
- A true federal system which allows the component states to keep their resources, but allows the federal government taxing powers;
- A diverse revenue base rather than the dependence on a single natural resource, oil;
- Autonomy for component states and localities to determine their wage structures. There is no reason for the governor of Lagos State to earn the same salary as the Governor of Kogi, or for a teacher in Mubi to earn the same as one in Abuja or Port Harcourt, given the widely varying costs of living and revenue generating capacities across the country.
Let us begin to think about change and dream big dreams.
Let me also point out that we really cannot move beyond oil without cleaning up the environmental mess created so far by oil exploration in the affected communities. A recent study by the United Nations captured the magnitude of the problem and estimated that it would cost over a trillion dollars to remediate. If we try to move beyond oil without addressing that challenge, the host communities will be unable to move with us and such unwholesome practices will be transferred to solid minerals’ exploitation. We must insist that the oil companies and other companies clean their mess. And we must make pollution a very costly proposition for them. Their activities must comply with internationally acceptable standards. The clean-up itself will create thousands of immediate jobs for people in the locality as well.
Political Will
Do we have the political will to push this transition to an economy that is not dependent on oil?
I understand “political will” to mean the existence within a leadership of the strong desire and determination to take specific actions intended to realise set objectives, including the willingness to take the necessary political risks and make political sacrifices for the realisation of those objectives. Conversely, when leaders back away from fully pursing an important societal goal, they are said to lack the political will to act.
You have obviously made the assumption that political will is critical for Nigeria to make such an important leap to a post-oil economy, especially given the addictive nature of oil rents. Without hesitation, I agree with you that political will is critical in the transformation of a country. However, I hasten to add that we have to discuss political will within the context of politics and leadership and the process of the emergence of leaders.
Political will is important; but it has to be rooted in democracy, good governance and accountability. It has to emerge from a truly democratic electoral process, existing entirely to serve the interest of the people and rendering full and honest accounts of stewardship to the people. In Nigeria we do not have a good record of respecting these virtues, and we must.
Make no mistake, political will does not miraculously exist in an individual or group. It is a collective thing, which has to have backing and support. And that support is people. It can be a small group of friends and comrades, who believe in something, have a vision and seek power to realise that vision for the society. And that group must at some point give the mass of the people a reason to believe, a reason to share that vision and a path for its realisation. It, therefore, means that political will needs organisation. A leader who is a loner can easily be derailed by sundry pressures, but if he or she is part of a collective that shares that vision and mobilizes the larger society to buy into it, the political will becomes enduring and effective. So political will, while critical, is not a magic wand and does not just emerge miraculously.
Therefore, engagement is critical. People must be inspired and mobilized, otherwise the daily grind of making a living will prevent them from taking an active part in public affairs. A mobilized, enlightened populace is more likely to demand their rights and hold their freely chosen leaders to account.
One of the things I take delight in whenever I travel outside Nigeria is talking to young Nigerians who reside abroad to get a sense of their experiences, their hopes and their plans. And most of the time when I do that, my faith in Nigeria is renewed, my hope rekindled. For the most part our people in the diaspora do take a keen interest in goings-on at home.
One young man, in particular, who is a friend of one of my sons, usually tells me whenever I ask how he is doing “I am hustling, sir.” He never explains to me what hustling means in his own case, but I understand it to mean the daily struggles that our people go through to make a living. I would always tell the young man not to forget to pay attention to what is happening at home in Nigeria while he hustles and he would reassure me that he is paying attention and would like to get more involved.
I am saying the same to all of you in the diaspora. Pay attention and get more involved. You can intervene in the on-going constitutional amendment process. The great ideas and experiences that you have acquired will help you and the country in numerous ways.
Furthering that involvement is why I strongly support voting rights for Nigerians abroad. Many citizens live abroad due to rising insecurity or underwhelming employment opportunities. It is time to re-engage the millions who call Nigeria home, wherever they may be, by allowing diaspora voting.
Engagement can also be achieved on-line through social media. As I have proven this summer, you are never too “mature” to tweet. Online engagement can create offline success. And young Nigerians are becoming some of the most engaged activists in Africa.
In fact, my Twitter account – @atiku – generated hundreds of recommendations for this speech alone, under the hash tag “#PostOilNigeria.” I strongly encourage you to engage our government leaders with demands for the “political will” to succeed.
Conclusion
Let me, as a businessman, address the enterprise aspect of the theme of this conference. As you know, ours is a young and dynamic economy. It is largely unexplored territory. There is opportunity for investments in virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy. Those who are interested in investing in the country (and I urge all of you to be interested) will be the best judges of what it is you would like to invest in after doing your homework. Nigeria cries out for investments to help create employment and give the economy the necessary boost.
There are vast opportunities in agriculture, food processing, solid minerals, art and culture. Opportunities abound in the provision of physical and social infrastructure through concessioning and other interesting financing arrangements.
Our emerging technology sector, especially software development and e- commerce, is creating growth opportunities worthy of our investment. In fact, 65% of our new technology entrepreneurs are returning diaspora and foreign-trained graduates.
All of these will help grow us out of the dependence on oil revenues, which, in turn, will help to reduce the political tensions in the country and give us the necessary peace and stability for enduring growth and development. It is we Nigerians that have to develop Nigeria. Nobody else will do it for us.
You must help to make Nigeria a country that you desire to return to and raise your families in and care for your relatives and dependents. The respect you get in foreign lands is somewhat related to the degree of advancement we achieve at home. So let’s all join hands and rebuild our one and only country, Nigeria.
I thank the organizers of this event for inviting me, and I thank you for your attention.
I appreciate ur courage sir,but the need being said that all these initiatives are not coming now,you have also been in power why have you failed to incorporate this ever since,I stand to be corrected if you can convince me
In simple word my friend,his today is better than his yesterday,cos u can’t tell me u’r same as u are as at the time he was the VP… I stand corrected too bro
Sir ,the paper is very elequant but let me advice that oir sea port should be properly haneass the will no doubt revolution ise our economy , let borrow Syngpo stragy,pls
I aprci8 d fact dat u did not leave out political will off d factors wich ar of importance in transformation…and i concur that what Nigeria needs ryt nao is d ryt political efforts geared @ ensuring a diversified economy just lyk u noted…. My question however is dat having attained a position of political prominence ursef and recognising the problem, wat were your efforts towards ensuring a diversified economy in the country….a response would no less mal or make your authority on speaking on a topic like this…[email protected]
I think the dude is just trying to politik us again… he just walked out of a party convention in an attempt to ridicule the party or rather to get his personal interest… lately, I admired his eloquence and adoption of social media but if GEJ get a collection of people like this dude have in his media office… he will also convince Nigerian with great eloquence…mind you that even Obama was not writing those stuffs himself… if government are really interested in moving Nigeria why are they destroying what they term illegal refineries…why not take it and develop it since the legal ones are not working???
Abeg free us joor
Sir, pertaining on the #PostOilNigeria what is your realistic first step to ensure a gradual shift from oil dependence
Very incisive write up that clearly highlights the quagmire bedevilling the Nation.Yes we need strong political leadership to lead us to the promised land with active support from the citizenry
MOVING NIGERIA BEYOND OIL , IS THERE A POLITICAL WILL?
The answer to the latter part of the topic under discussion is a definite NO.
This is because we have been infected with the dutch disease and we (succeeding governments and administrations) have done nothing to vaccinate us (our economy) from the rampaging and destructive effects of the disease.
In economics, the Dutch disease is the apparent relationship between the increase in exploitation of natural resources and a decline in the manufacturing sector (or agriculture). The mechanism is that an increase in revenues from natural resources (or inflows of foreign aid) will make a given nation’s currency stronger compared to that of other nations (manifest in an exchange rate), resulting in the nation’s other exports becoming more expensive for other countries to buy, making the manufacturing sector less competitive. While it most often refers to natural resource discovery, it can also refer to “any development that results in a large inflow of foreign currency, including a sharp surge in natural resource prices, foreign assistance, and foreign direct investment”.
This term was coined in 1977 by The Economist to describe the decline of the manufacturing sector in the Netherlands after the discovery of a large natural gas field in 1959. This was about the same time that our first oil well was discovered somewhere called Oloibiri in present day Bayelsa state.
The Dutch suffered what we are still going through as a nation many years ago, but they vaccinated themselves and were able to bring the disease under control. Their Gas is of a poor quality with low calorific value as such selling below premium blends , yet they were able to have a diversified economy and of course development followed.
This is the reason why my answer to the question cum subject under discuss was a clear NO.
Nigeria ordinarily as a nation has an advantage in the area of Agriculture, but this is yet to be harnessed. I grew up to learn (heard about it) about the Groundnut Pyramids in the North and the booming oil palm trade in the South East and the equally booming Cocoa trade in the West. Today, we hardly hear of those, it is either we are hearing about Oil, or Oil Servicing Companies, we have Engineers who are all focused on the same Oil & Gas / Energy Sectors, we don’t have Engineers who are focused on the Agricultural Sector and or the Manufacturing Sector since manufacturing in itself is dying, aside the Beverage industries and food industries, we hardly have what we can call manufacturing in the real sense of the word since our steel industries are more or less comatose.
I am not claiming to have a magic wand or all the solutions, but we can start by ensuring that Leaders with the will, vision and focus are raised and nurtured for the task ahead. This should be devoid of ethnic and or religious sentiments.
Our Nation Nigeria also needs to be restructured, the powers at the Centre can be devolved to the states and or Local Councils to ensure that development gets to all nooks and crannies of the entire nation.
Incentivization should be a working policy tool of our leaders as it is the fastest way to stimulate the economy.
I see no reason why Abia State for example cannot turn the stretch of land bordering it and Rivers State into an Industrial Park with the aim of attracting investments that will be focused on servicing the industries in Portharcourt and of course Agro based manufacturing that can be exported through the Onne Sea Port all in Rivers State. To attract such investments, tax holiday incentives can be the trick while government on its own assures security and infrastructure are in place.
The truth remains that the Political will is lacking from our leadership, while i am of the opinion that our leaders past and possibly present may have the best of intentions but are confronted often times with issues that gets them distracted from the desire to enthrone change that is much needed to get the Economy soaring .
I thank you Sir, Turakin Adamawa , for the opportunity to contribute this bit. I look forward to a truly flourishing and prosperous Nigeria, where we have all constituent parts of the nation thriving and not the current situation of a big sugar daddy (FGN) dispensing goodies (monthly allocations) to mistresses (36 states )some of which are not viable.
May i convey the assurances of my high esteem and regards.
Charles Odizuru-Abangwu Jr.
Thumbs up 2d former vice president for seeing things differently..may d lord ennrich u wit more knowledge
Whao! Dis is d best write up av eva.had d priviledge of readin….I think what we nigerians av to do is to try to forget about petroleum for awhile nd tink of oda ways of surviving.atleast agriculture was once our main source of generating revenue. I strongly believe we can still do that now.cos petroleum has done more harm dan gud in nigeria as far as am concern.we youth av stopped thinkin,all we want is makin fast cash.I strongly blv if we put our mind to implementing ‘political will’,nigeria will change nd with the rite backing of course.
Sir I must commend you this is a fantastic speech. Nevertheless I would like to make a few comments. Firstly I am of the opinion that Nigeria can make the move to a post oil economy. According to Barack Obama climate change is greatest threat facing mankind, one of the major green house gases carbon dioxide is gotten from gas flaring in Nigeria. For many years the developed countries went about industrialization whitout any care for the environment till in the early seventies, when sustainable development was born. It is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (WCED 87). The world is going green now to survive and to fight climate change. Our dependence on Oil(fossil fuels) would only increase our vulnerability to climate change. Nigeria is signatory to many international agreements but has refused to implement it, we credit all this to lack of political will, but if we have a radical leader we can make that change. Yes corrruption has eaten so deep into the NIGERIAN economy but we still have success stories like Fashola. In order for Nigeria the giant of Africa and one of the emerging economies to reduce their dependence on oil, we have to adopt a green economy. Switching to clean sources of energy like renewable energy and clean development mechanisms. I have much more to say but I shall conclude by saying that I BELIEVE in a green, developed and sustainable Nigeria. Thank you. twitter handle @Chimzey
I really which our Ex-vice president can tell us where these Ideas came from. Because when he was the vice president of this country for years he never thought of these.
I have asked him this same question before but no reply(not surprised)I see all this write-ups as rhetoric.If all this past governments have spent a quarter of the money that came into government coffer as expected judiciously on budget Nigeria will be a first world country
Your thoughts on Nigeria are real and require all hands to be on deck to move the country forward. As a revered statesman, the younger generation believe that you should use your God’s given talents in politics, business and otherwise, to help build a Nigeria of our dreams anchored on peace, equity and justice for all. Please Sir, I want you to join hands with President Goodluck Jonathan to take Nigeria to its manifest destiny. This is the only way that the Political Will you talked about can work. As a nation, we are blessed with good leaders.
We should stop being hypocrite, Atiku Abuabakar was a former VP for eight (8) years. And yet in his paper,non of these information was implemented. Lagos state , generate 50% of its revenue via IGR. Yet they could not increase minimum wage, Labour union had to fight for the increament.If you give states,to appropriate salaries for their politician it will be abused.Lagos and kwara state are paying ex governors pension. For looting the state dry.Please I hate it when politician are trying to fool the masses.
SIR YOU BASICALLY RULED THIS COUNTRY FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS WHILE YOUR PRINCIPAL WAS BUSY GOING ROUND THE WORLD WITH TAX PAYERS MONEY. WHERE WAS ALL THIS IDEA? WHY DIDNT YOU USE THEM?
Thumps up sir that’s all I have for you known
I hail ooo, your excellency sir,
I heard that you have a stake in mikano generating sets production and distributions?
is true? if yes, then you have not included 24 hours electricity for all citizens sir,
i like you and i will like to advise you that the youth are angry especially myself when i hear the amount of money you politician waste around in the name of political campaigns and what have you.i hope to see a Nigeria that is no more a consuming nation that is exporting and manufacturing everything and import less even human resources(expatriates). I wish i can pour out all my mind but i wont want to proceed any further.
@charles anjuwa…..i rili dnt agree we av gud leaders in dis country….we lack leaders wit hindsyt and foresyt.we av few dough,but d bad 1s supersedes d gud1s,d resulutant effct of d acrimonies performd by dis blacksheeps superimpose dat of d gud1…we nid mor of d gud 1s..and on @atiku coming 2geda wit GEJ….d calculus is not positive, GEJ has alredi saild alone in2 d island of nowia…his gps has faild…ley us pray tinz dnt bcom worse and watchout wen voting 2015…
While the content and delivery of the speech will receive a standing ovation from the audience, the present policy makers and people in central government will dismiss it since they do not have alternatives solutions to diversification of the economy and Nigerian knows that the problem of Nigeria economy and moving beyond oil is not a technical issues that requires any intellectual task or Harvard blueprint.
What we need is to cancel and reverse all curses placed on most Nigeria’s leaders especially the central government leadership. Nigeria leadership since inceptions are entrusted in the hands of people that are never prepared for leadership position. In a globalised capitalist economy of today, it must ring in everybody’s head that diversification of our economy and moving beyond oil is a non-debatable issue, but the lamentable tragedy is that those that currently forced themselves on the leadership positions still follow in the destructive and wicked footsteps of their predecessors.
What do we do? Part of the solutions are in the paper delivered by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar but I must say emphatically that those in governments at all level must put a stop to the continuous rapeconomy and the bleeding of the economy through their frivolous expenditures switching policies that does not have any positive multiplier effects on the economy.
Let them know that Nigerians will not continue to be trekking while the servants are riding horses.
A thought provoking article on the diversification of Nigeia economy from oil to Agriculture,so far the GEJ administration has shown more political will in this regards which has translated to a considerable growth in the agricultural sector and export of Agricultural products, though more still has to be done. However, I am baffled why our politicians comes up with brilliant ideas only after they are out of power…
Mr. Vice President in 2007, some us stuck our neck behind you, but you eventually disappointed us by going back to the PDP. And see what is happening today within the PDP. I admire your resilience and truly believe you have something positive to offer this blessed Country. But with due respect, you need a fixed place to stand, come rain or shine. We want to support you but shifting is not helping matters.
Our problem is leadership period. Whether oil or agriculture , bad and timid leadership will not achieve meaningful development. I believe a society’s structure comes ultimately not from written laws or constitutions, but from the moral choices of its members. You cannot have development in the physical realm without development in the moral realm, because the universe is ultimately moral. As people begin to apply the moral truth in their lives, they begin laying a moral foundation for the society. God’s moral laws create the foundation. Thus the reality is that it’s impossible to affect genuine political reform without reforming individual and societal character. This is where the need for transformative leaders becomes imperative.
In the past couple of decades both transactional and transformative leadership have become a focus of research. While transactional leadership is the daily stuff of mundane politics as the usual pursuit of change in measured doses, to give and take, the transformational leader cut more profoundly and operates on a different spectrum. To transform is to cause a metamorphosis in form or structure, a change in the very condition or nature of a thing, a radical change in outward form and inner character.
It is a change of the foregoing breadth and depth that is fostered by transforming leadership. Quantitative changes are not enough, they must be qualitative too and so comprehensive and pervasive that new cultures and value system take the place of old.
Vigorous interaction between transforming leaders and their followers is itself a powerful causal force for change. Leaders take the initiative in mobilizing people for participation in the process of change, encouraging a sense of collective identity and collective efficacy which in turn brings stronger feelings of self-worth and a sense of meaningful pursuit in life. The word for the process is empowerment. Instead of exercising power over people, transforming leaders champion and inspire followers to rise above narrow interest and work together for transcending goals. Transforming leaders define public values that embrace the supreme and enduring principles of a people. These values are the shaping ideas behind Constitutions and laws and their interpretation. Transforming leaders led by example and engagement. That is what Nigeria direly need.
Pleas find below an article I wrote and was published in some dailies in 2007:
Category:Views | Date:2007-03-23. The Nation Newspaper.
Passion slaves: Get Atiku at all cost
By Isaac Labani Sambo
“Catharsis – giving vent to rage – is sometimes extolled as a way of handling anger. The popular theory holds that it makes you feel better. But there is an argument against catharsis. Psychologist have time after time found that giving vent to anger did little or nothing to dispel it, though because of the seductive nature of anger, it may feel satisfying. There may be some specific conditions under which lashing out in anger does work, when for instance it restores a sense of control or rights an injustice, or when it inflicts ‘appropriate harm’ on the other person and gets him to change some grievous activity without retaliating. But because of the incendiary nature of anger, this may be easier to say than to do.
Ventilating anger is one of the worst ways to cool down: outburst of rage typically pump the emotional brain’s arousal, leaving people feeling more angry, not less. It is far more effective when people first cooled down, and then in a more constructive or assertive manner, confront the person to settle their dispute. In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle states, “anyone can become angry – that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way – this is not easy.”
Each day’s news comes to us ripe with reports of the disintegration of civility between the president and his vice, and indeed everybody that is critical of Mr. President. There is an onslaught of mean spirited impulse running amok, a creeping sense of emotions out of control in our society. No one is insulated from this erratic tide of outburst: it reaches into all our lives in one way or another. The newspaper reports portray an upsurge in our emotional ineptitude, desperation and recklessness in our families, in our society and collective lives. These past few months running up to the April polls have chronicled a surging rage and despair in our entire body polity. I ask myself: What factors are at play, when people of high IQ flounder and those of modest IQ do surprisingly well? The difference quite often lies in the abilities Daniel Goleman calls “Emotional Intelligence,” which includes self – control, zeal and persistence and ability to motivate oneself.
But beyond this possibility looms a pressing moral imperative. There are times when the fabric of society seems to unravel at ever greater speed, when selfishness, violence and a meanness of spirit seem to be rotting the goodness of our communal life. Here the argument for the importance of emotional intelligence hinges on the link between sentiment, character and moral instincts. There is growing evidence that fundamental ethical stance in life stem from underlying emotional capacities. For while impulse is the medium of emotion; the seed of all impulse is a feeling bursting to express itself in action. Those who are at the mercy of impulse – who lack self-control – suffer a moral deficiency. The ability to control impulse is the base of will and character.
By the same token, the root of altruism lies in empathy, the ability to read emotions in others; lacking a sense of another’s need or despair there is no caring. And if there are two moral stances that is called in this Country today, as the build up the April polls approaches; they are precisely these: self–restrain and compassion. In the Nicomachean Ethics mentioned above, which was Aristotle’s philosophical enquiry into virtue, character and the good life; his challenge is to manage our emotional life with intelligence. Our passions when well exercised, have wisdom; they guide our thinking, our values, and our survival. But they can easily go awry, and do so all too often.
Of all the moods that people want to escape, rage seems to be the most intransigent; anger is the most seductive of the negative emotions, the self-righteous inner monologue that propels it along fills the mind with the most convincing arguments for venting rage. Thus while people are in the throes of mania they often feel so overly confident that they see no need for help of any kind despite the disastrous decision they are making. What is it about Vice President Atiku Abubakar that gets President Obasanjo all grilled up? The Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF report? Please spare us the drama over such fundamentally flawed and logically sterile report. Even the man with least intelligence would know that there is something much deeper than the PTFD report with the manic desperation to stop Atiku at all cost from contesting the April polls.
All we need from Mr. President in the present circumstance is: self-restrain and compassion, and in that frame of mind he will recognise that when Nigerians voted him in 2003, they did not surrender to him their freedom of choice; even Supreme Creator left the right of choice to each and every individual human being. Let us expose corrupt politicians, but much more important, let us organise a free and fair elections, and let Nigerians exercise their right of choice. At any rate if Mr. President is so confident that his reforms are the ultimate; and that Nigerian so loved the reforms and would like a PDP government to continue with the reforms; then of course, he should not lose sleep over an ‘indicted’ Atiku. Otherwise Mr. President’s chronic agitation of his emotional brain for the disqualification of Vice President Atiku is not good for his well being nor for the stability of our Country, especially when this is triggered by, I believe, just a symbolic threat to self – esteem or dignity of Mr. President which has nothing to do with the commonwealth of Nigerians.”
• Sambo is a legal practitioner.
See https://www.thenationonlineng.net/archive2/tblnews_Detail.php?id=14216 .
Yes, a very nice one sir, you are a very very powerful respected citicizen of this country. What did you do to correct this , what are you doing now to correct all this for the benefit. Of majority poor Nigerians. Yes if it comes to speech ,comentary policies etc, we are very accurate. We need action sir, majory of nigerian’s are suferring. We need an action person. We are tired of speeches, talk , policies etc. I HAVE ALWAYs belived in you sir and I will always be sir. Thank you.
Thank you sir for this expository but proactive speech. Nevertheless, your proposition touched on virtually all aspect of the economy plus expected moral and conciencious will to embrace this metamorphouses. This should not just be a speech and end just as a speech but must be nurtured, watered and carefully cared for to see the light of day. In essence, I ll advice that you use your reputation and integrity to push through a NIGERIA BEYOND OIL CAMPAIGN to sensitize and gain social support for this amiable master piece. I rest my case. Frm G.ani (faculty of Law, DELSU, Nigeria).
Sir, true federalism is what we need in other to achieve most of the suggestions u made on how to develop the economy. Too much concentration of power in the centre and too much dependence on oil handout by states will continue if dis is not done.
Most of the current reforms may not be sustainable if this is not done and the economy is not private sector-led.
Fighting corruption, improve justice system, etc are also key.
Despite all these challenges; Nigeria, I Beleive!
Great plan and dream, but we’ve seen moree and after voting nothing was done… What’s in it forr the Nigerian youths?
Well written paper. Let’s assume you’re voted in as our next president, how do you plan to implement this and within what time frame? Will this position singularly solve Nigeria’s problems? Thank you.
Nicely said sir @atiku but the country needs purification for all these things to be possible,I feel our leaders in power lack the political will and are blinded by the easy money they get from oil…I’ll really love to see this country step out of our oil shoes.
What an insightful and thought provoking piece. With the shale oil discovery in the US one can say that we are drifting to the #postoilNigeria. Let’s focus on transforming out Gas resources to produce petrochemical products, fertilizer, electricity etc for the west african region. Sir, please check the statistic neither JODI figure nor CBN figure of Oil exported btwn 2007-2012 is correct. Even though we suffered militant attacks btwn 2007 – 2008 our daily production neva went below 1 million barell. Also our economy has been inflicted by the ‘Dutch Syndrome’ since the oil boom days. Was there any concious effort by u to change things when u were VP and chair of National Ecomic Council?
@atiku , many had commented on your speech as being powerful but I ask if the former vice president GCON of the Federal Republic of Nigeria do not do so, who will? Suffice it to say that you had an opportunity to have recognized and done as you’ve said but you didn’t, why? Permit me to say that you were among the generational errors and political mistakes Nigeria ever had. Your political generation brought in thunderstorm and hailstone that rendered the walls of this nation unstable even till date. Many questions had erupted in this discuss but you’ve not been able to dish out any vital answer; you are only busy given us schedule from Uk to China to . . . . Sir, If you are too busy to answer Nigerians, then you are too busy to lead Nigeria. I MUST COMMEND YOUR COURAGE TO HAVE WRITTEN ON NOTHING NEW TO NIGERIANS.
@opeokesola I candidly believe the economy needs and ought to diversify from oil, but until true federalism is in place, until innovation and knowledge drives our economy we cannot get there. Let us be courageous to do like the Indian in the 50′s under Nehru and stop importation of items so that industries can develop, let funding be rightly provided for R and D, let us develop our intellectual properties, let tourism be a mainstay of our economy, we need to fight corruption sincerely otherwise this money would end up in private pockets as has been the case. Erudite scholar Sir William Arthur Lewis once said “if agriculture remain stagnant industry cannot grow” let us revive the agricultural sector to enhance growth and employment. Let us shun all foreign aids and assistance that have hindered us from attaining full potential in our economy, let us make Nigeria the investors haven, the tourism destination, the leading provider of quality education and health care. Nigeria would be great and in our life time.
Any nation or country that forbids a reliable leader will surely encounter a dichotomous financial, administrative and economic absurdity. There can never be a development economic wise in a country that there local productions in every aspect do not recognize internationally, Let us abolished our very fictitious insinuation and non applicable write up with a view of taking Nigeria to the promise land.
sir really appreciate ur thinking and thought on #post oil.But sir wt d present governing bodies we have now, i mean our political(baboons) we called politicians do u
think this thought of us can be ascertained!
a wonderful and reasonable speech…our country is lacking people like you inother to rebuild it,may Allah increase your knowledge and help you in your good intention and also bless our country Amin
I wud lik to change d opinion of some tweeps dat sed ex-vice president shud av implemented dis kind of idea Wen e was in position.d vice president is like a spare tire to d president wu owns d power.
This is good write-up.You did a thorough research on this, but i want to ask you My former Vice president, where did this knowledge of yours stay when you where the VP.?
what a great and insightful paper delivery by the ex-vp.i wonder why there was bereavement of these ideas that would have positioned us as a 1st world developing nation with emergence of opportunities in sensitive sectors of the economy.i hope the political willpower will be on parade through the leadership as its currently in absential.it doesnt take a century to make change.all hands must just be on deck if we really still get this great nation going.God bless 9ja!
s
A lovely speech sir.
Sir, your write up is quite eloquent and the very best I”ve ever read on this topic, but do we forgive you for not really living this out while you were in power or better still maybe you were not so aware then.
It”ll be my pleasure to have you come down to my University to come deliver this lecture, I’m quite conscious of the facts highlighted in this paper, but it will do my generation so much good to get hold of this information as well, so they don’t keep depending on a oil which dividends may never get to them and they can as well position themselves rightly.
Modalities are set sir if you’ll come.
Raphael (OAU Ife)
Comparism of pre-independence agricultural era to present day economic challenges(population, education level and standard, technology, political structure, industrialization and most especially, globalization) might give us a skewed picture and affect the eventual decision that will be taken .Building for post oil era should begin now with our education structure. Putting in place economic policies (micro and macro) that will “entice” Nigerians to be investment focused and stop being immediate pleasure driven. Celebration of excellence over affluence.We need to change our thinking and value system.
dats a gud write up and i also like ur courage to come on social network to address nigerians, but sincerely do really think we still need old politicians like u in ds country to fool us again? enough wt pdp (papa deceive pikin) goverment!
The paper is a very nice one and i really appreciate your effort as an elderly man who want the progress of nigerians and the country in general. The paper looks from all indications as a solution to nigerian problems. Now the only effort left is the ability to implement the said objective and goals. also will like to sell an idea to you on how to implement it. i will post to your as soon as am through.
Nice speech……..More grace to ur elbow,sir.But I think we need more than just political will to make a better post-oil Nigeria.political will should be accompanied with sound macroeconomic policies in the non-oil sectors and pursue with utmost good faith.
This is really inspiring but where will these strong willed politicians stem from when the priorities of an average Nigeria politician is how to loot the national treasury? The fate of this great nation lies in the hands of the coming generations. As far as am concerned this country was corrupted long before our births. The overall solution still lies with our maker. Thank you sir.
Welcome sir, u have said it all, I have to read this about several time to understand the wisdom behind writing this speech, Nigeria as lost nation cannot be better in the post oil economy, we will never survive it, if we did not start the preparation on time.
Oil corrupted almost all of us, leadership and followership, oil make Nigerians lazy. Agreed, we have many section of economy which is untapped and we must do anything necessary to make our economy more bouyant than that of petrochemical. We also need to be precise sir, on fighting against corruption the big cancer that make us look stupid in the eyes of the world. People like me want to develop Nigeria but we don’t know the way, many young entrepreneurs are evolving but the atmosphere is not favourable for many of us. Example of myself, when I set up a brick making company, without enough capital to promote the businesses and I have no access to any facility, the business collapsed just like that. Your Excellency sir, post oil Nigeria will be very difficult to manage if the journey as we start goes like this. Have a nice day.
With all due respect sir U never really really made emphasis on the power sector and Tranportation routes which I bliv was a major task that your government worked for and even up until now. It has no headway
Need, to talk to you sir concerning my new business idea. Not that I need financial support but need you sir to do some things for me. The idea s employed five personel,but wish to expand to the extent of employing hundred to thousands Nigerians. All we need for now is to get connected to people that will require our service big time… Reserve my comment, cos it is forever living idea just like telecommunication cos it deals with IT too. Thanks sir
07037928848
Permit me sir to ask some questions, what is political will to the average Nigerian politician that is only interested in rigging votes to loot our money in Abuja? You were part of an administration that did nothing to our comatose refineries,what policy(policies) did your administration put in place to correct the malaise, Sir you can not develop a country that cannot provide constant power to small and medium scale businesses the bulk of their profit are used to power their firms. Corruption aided by tribalism has been the bane of our under development. Lovely speech but what is the essence of having policy that at the end of the day fails? I studied our development plans from the first development plan to vision 2020 but we all know it is another gimmick,how do we translate to a power house when we solely rely on oil… nice move away from PDP am fan of you and the the same time a critic.. answer these few questions and we can discusss more i like the fact you volunteered to read through all questions and answered
A good write up no doubt and presented in an eloquent prose.
My take is that of all the suggestions, agriculture seems to be where to start and in doing that, two things needed to be tackled frontally; the land use act and funding.
Ability to start with these two issues are indeed the test of political will.
Nigeria has never made any effort in bringing other production like the oil we sell that fetches us money…but sir, you were once a deputy president…while u were there, there wasn’t anyfin to show for it.i just think u should end this and stop posting things for countries to know whats really going on in Nigeria…don’t worry we don’t need your help on that anymore,we are the ones suffering and not u..Thanks
@atiku. This write up is very powerful and emotional. But if this piece is really writen out by Atiku Abubakar then there is HOPE for Nigerians yet unborn.
If Atiku Abubakar can write out this as the contract with Nigerians on his campaingn manifesto and agrees that if he fails, then he should be impeached, he can count on Nigerians total support.
One thing is to have agood write up like this but another is to have the will to take the risk to accomplish it.
I know that as a former Vice President under Olusegun Obasanjo, the constitution did not give him the total privillege to carry out his own initiative agenda.
But now the big question is what if he was not given the oportunity to actualise this program, will he be willing ti sponsor a presidential candidate that buys into this his dream or NOT.
Thanks.
Solomon
Sir, every Nigerian wth is right frame will applaud this speach and it proves that you have Nigeria in mind and you always think about us. But I will like to ask the following question
#1, have you been Nursing this for long or its your new policy or campaign strategy when you realize that this Government is seriously passing the foot path of it Predecessor
#2, its this another brainlant speech from the stable of campaign office or his execellency created time to write this out his busy schedule.
#3, sir post retirment or step aside investment linked to you are mainly on Education, oil and Gas, Tourism, properties, Banking and ambitious political philanthropist activities.
#4, sir you talked about reaching everyone in this your new campaign struggle but you didn’t tell us how you will implement the #postoilNigeria Dream.
Sir, you are very much on point. But the issue remains that these needs are not new. For someone at one point was the second citizen of Nigeria, what did you do to salvage these challenges? Sometimes I tend to think that our leaders regain their sense of good leadership when they are not occupying political post. If not, with this wealth of knowledge expressed in your article, you could have done better than you did during your tenure with OBJ. However, there is hope for this country. Political will remains the most vital tool to restoring that hope. Even corruption can be well checked, not OBJ partial method, where there is political will. All other need for post oil economy can be addressed if the political will is there. Good electoral process and justice will ensure this political will. Thank you Sir
atiku has great plans for this country
No doubt a post oil Nigeria,is the Chance we need to progress,but will this government or the new government to come forth in the next election bring this opportunity to the table.if have read this piece,I must say I am in awe,that,you actual saw light to think of this,the best part is you decided to share the light.
So I am thinking if you are sharing this with us,you must have with other governmental bodies,what I want to know is,how did they receive this ?,I have questions for you too,having lived in Nigeria,and seen the way of our politics,cause belive me when I say we have a different set of rules,cause here our government don’t act on policies or ammendments,they play with politics,its a game of who can profit the most,so here are a few question
1.What steps,do you think should be taken towards a post oil Nigeria ?
2.If you have steps,what are the strategies that should be implented ?
3.If these strategies,make an improvement,what produce of the solution is expected ?
4.Are we to belive,that you wouldn’t have gain,in the post oil economy ?
These are a few questions that comes to my mind,I always tell people,don’t trust anyone who tells you a problem,but doesn’t give you a solution,in this case we are looking for different solutions as they are many sectors which needs to be fixed in other for this to be realized.
I strongly agree,with the fact Nigeria is overly dependent on crude oil production,for a fact you are right didn’t always use to be black gold,in the past we had red gold (palm oil),agricultural produce were in high demand.but our government collasped this bridge.
Talking of post oil Nigeria,Donald Duke,sort out other ways to get revenues through the country,with tourism but that failed,Tinapa practically empty,the obudu cattle ranch the same thing,we build places that only 10% of the nation can afford,most of these percentage are abroad.there is a school inside the ranch,which isn’t even at high educational standard.
Even Adolf hitler supposedly saw the agricultural value of Africa,for it was he supposed plan to make the entire Africa a Farm.
You addressed the issue,that we youths should be a voice,and as Ghandi said’ be the difference you want to see in the world’,but is it in a nation were we bullied by our government,our voices are shunned,our cries,ignored and our right violated,the only people our goverrnment are ruling is themselves,you mentioned to form organization,so have the government they have formed an organization were as ex presidents,governors,senators still have rights to make inputs to what our country,I dare say,when they had rulership why didn’t they make this move,we citizens of Nigeria are as good as what we called the MASSES,as the government have shown us,we are here to occupy space,and that’s all we are Good for.
In my owm opinion,as I say when am sweeping the house,you have not swept until you scatter the funitures,then you will see dirt under the chairs,behind the chairs,and then you might find a better way to arrange the furniture,what we need is to sweep the sectors clean and re arrange our revenues.I mean by now we should be able to build our own refineries,build our own roads,build our bridges,yet we still have international companies handling it for.
As I say,its not that we weren’t given independence,its that we are now slaves to independence.we are fond of opening our houses and letting visitors take charge.
So I say revolutinize our government and Nigeria we see a better Evolution.
You have nothing to tell my group and I as far as repairing Nigeria is concerned. You are a major part of the problem and of course will never support you. You are a very selfish, self centered and narrow minded human being. Posterity will never forgive your like minds who have destroyed this nation for your personal gains.
Even though I hate to love you. This is wonderful.
With all due respect sir, don’t you think this whole concept is easier said than done? Will politicaians allow the idae to flow? It take a courageous man like you to see and say things others can’t see but the question is did you just notice this? Did the idea just spring to your brain over night? Was it a vision? Were you oblivious of all this from 1999-2007? ????? Sir please I need answers……….ASAP
I’m tired of discussing Nigerian issue.
After working in development sector in Nigeria for years and assisted some nations of the world to raise the standard of living of the “common man” in their societies, I can understand two (2) things that blind Nigerians eyes from knowing/accepting the truth that majority of our leaders ever since are not sincere with the development of the “common man” rather they are interested in enriching their pockets, giving their children and allies juicy contracts and positions at the expense of the poor masses. This two (2) elements are: “regionalism and religiousity”.
They (our leaders) always come in with good prospect. But once they are in, they put on different mantle.
I don’t believe in anyone anymore. They have, and are still consuming every good part of this nation while destroying our generation and the ones to come.
I don’t know whether to support my nation anymore!
#PostoilNigeria “It will be a diversified economy where agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing, and services are, at least, as important to the economy and government revenues as oil rents”. Internal revenue will be generated just fine from the above sectors you mentioned in the essay, if things run out smooth we can now speak of a strong welfare scheme that’s going to help and become a strong back bone to National economy.
these things were written as rawly as I had thought, with the spice of experience and hope. I believe in NIgeria.
A well-informed speech. If you are this equipped with such knowledge, why did your 8-year administration fail?
NB: Whether or not you were Vice President, you held a pivotal and salient position in this nation (even from your days prior to the Presidency)
I AM EXPECTING A VALID, PRECISE AND RATIONAL RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION.
THANK YOU SIR.
Sir,
Good -Day your excellency! I must commend and appreciate you for the speech. It was quite informative, educative and enlightened. Instructively, I read this great speech of yours, I felt so so inspired knowing fully well that Nigeria (as a nation) and Nigerians (her citizenry) has no reason under the sun to be poor nor termed underdeveloped.
I and other Nigerians mainly youths of this country want an energetic, vibrant, intelligent and well-informed elder statesman like you to the unearth the immense treasures buried beneath of our soil which past and present have not realize; incalculable potentials inherent in Nigerians which no leader has the heart to provoke and bring to full manifestation; the treasures flying here and there meant to make Nigeria and Nigerians great which the eyes of our so-called leaders have not seen nor perceive.
Sir, I beseech you to take up this mandate and make the dreams of million of Nigerians who strongly believe in the future and greatness of this country of ours to be realize. The Turaki 1 of Adamawa ‘oga u no get rival’. Keep up this good fight by God’s grace you will surely rule this country and make our dream come through.
I and millions of Nigerians believe in your course and your will power to make Nigeria great! Well done …. and well done a million times.
Sir, please feel free to reach me via [email protected] or 07069715338. Oboh, Ezra, Lagos.
the government thereafter tried the policy of retaining 51% of the shares referred to as’ golden share’ and sold 49% of its shares in these companies to the public;still it didnt produce the desired result. why?
Hello Sir, i have taken the time to read your speech as well as people’s comments. Most people are wondering why you had such good plans for our economy and never implemented it while in office. Am thinking same too. That notwithstanding, i recall some tribulations you encountered while in office and during that period, you kept your cool and most Nigerians wondered why? That was a courageous thing you did if one ask me …for you not lose your cool while being pushed to the wall. My questions are:
With the present condition of PDP , if you still remain in this party, how sure are you that you can implement this great plan of post oil Nigeria without being frustrated?
I personally disagree on what you said about our economy being ”young”. The fact remains that Nigerians have not been given a level and comfortable ground to unleash their creativity and skills especially the youths. So How do you assure Nigerians you are going to break the barrier between the elders who does not allow the youths to be involve in decision taking so they can be part of the plans you listed here.?
Thank you and i wish you all the best!!! Jacqui IWU, Abuja
I am trusting God for somebody here tonight!! All the prophecies you have been writing down, He will bring it to past.
Sir,I really appreciate ur view on #postOilNigeria. But what are the measures u put in place to achieve this goal.
Honestly,There are so much to do to move this country forward ,to a greater height .i believe we have every resources to get there but human factors as (Our mentality and orientations )are posing so much challenges in taken this country to a desired place.we need to be engaging and not dictating and taking national needs above Our self and personal needs.its high time we ordinary nigerians take a bold step in the right directions..all hands must be on desk..proper implementation and execution of policy is also another key factor That Can move this country forward,like stiffer policy and punishment That would deter people from corruption.
sir,i am behind you sir for everything that you are doing sir?
Deceptions and pretences, multiplied by selfishness. Your all wasting your time. Do you think this guy Atiku has time to read all this not talk of reply. He’s busy plotting his next selfish move to disturb the polity and collect power so he can steal more. MUST ATIKU RULE NIGERIA, THEN IF NOT, HE MUST DISTROY THE POLITY AND SEDUCE ILITRATES TO GO & DIE ON THE STREET.
The Nigerian youths knows better, you can’t deceive us anymore with written work of a payed consultant, your now man of the youths because you payed one Mogue to manage you social media account. When they call you Tomorow for a one on one debate you will dogge. Been waiting to hear what his payed social media handler will reply. Blderish!
Sincerely, I couldn’t read d speech. It seem burdensome considering d fact dat its coming from a man who spent 8years being 2nd in command with out a seed of goodwill 2 show for it not 2 talk of a fruit of it.
Seriously @atiku, na siddon look politics u deserve 2 dey do for dis country. Abeg park joor!
Sir,almost every body agree in totality to your ideological political write up but are afraid in believing your sincerity to the majority poor. Mass of this country.
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