Buhari's Change, then and now: Next Level to where?

Akinwale Kehinde Abayomi

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari tagged 'change' will come to an end in the coming year. Another mantra tagged 'Next Level' is already in motion with the hope of securing votes of teaming Nigerians so as to further his governance. The purpose for this article is to reflectively break down the change President Buhari promised contrasted with the change we have as of now, thus giving sufficient premises to investigate where the 'Next Level' would almost certainly take the country if President Buhari is re-elected for a second term come next year 2019.

In March 2015, the unavoidable trend blew the nation over. Like a sea tempest, it overwhelmed an incumbent President in view of the appealling idea of the competitor, neither the change, the challenger proposed combined with the requirement for change in Nigeria commonwealth and without precedent for historical backdrop of this nation, the opposition party won the presidential race. President Muhammadu Buhari, the symbol of that change, All Progressives Congress (APC) the political platform he rode to overcome then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At the time, opinion had it that President Goodluck Jonathan's administration was portrayed by exemption, corruption was the order of the day and the Boko Haram agitators held the nation by the jugular. According to most Nigerians, the PDP administration has run its course and things expected to change. Taking advantage of the mind-set of Nigerians, the APC hooked on the inadequacies of the PDP, promising paradise on earth for Nigerians.

President Buhari, in his fourth endeavor at the administration, entered the history books to join previous President Olusegun Obasanjo as the second individual to govern Nigeria as a military head of state and a civilian President.

The change mantra of Buhari was relied on battling corruption, resuscitating the economy and security. Four years down the line, the jury is out on the execution or non-execution of the Buhari administration.

One of the best accomplishment of the Buhari administration is the fight against corruption,  here conspicuous Nigerians labeled untouchables were captured, arraigned and imprisoned for one degenerate practices or the other through the EFCC and ICPC. Additionally in the battle against corruption, the full execution of the Treasury Single Account and the Bank Verification Number has radically diminished the rate and level at which government officials plunder and abuse our general patrimony. Innovating fight against corruption, the introduction of Whistle blowing policy brought about exposure of corrupt government officials who stashed corrupts proceeds away from the preying eyes of anti corruption agencies, large sums of money were recovered from an Ikoyi house through a whistle blower, represents one achievement of the change brought into Nigeria polity by the Buhari administration. Even though the administration of Buhari has been accused of been biased with its fight against corruption, many are of the opinion that the fight against corruption is selective - targeting only political oppositions - However the removal of Babachir Lawal as the SGF because of allegations of violating the law and due process made against him in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE).

On security, President Muhammadu Buhari's change agenda has been able to achieve huge success in degrading the Boko haram terrorists where over 3 trillion Naira has been budgeted for, since 2015 for tackling insecurity in the country. Before the coming into power of President Muhammadu buhari, Boko Haram terrorists held the nation hostage. Insurgents went to an extent of taking over towns and villages hoisting flags. After assumption to power of Muhammadu Buhari, the might of this terrorist groups has been drastically weakened, towns and villages have been recovered from the hands of the insurgents. However current assort on the Nigerian army at metele camp and the killing of over fifty soldiers is an indication that the fight against insecurity in the Northeast and in Nigeria at large is far from over.

In the area of infrastructural developments, Buhari's change agenda promised investment in development of infrastructures and suffice to say the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has invested heavily towards infrastructural developments, more than 1,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed according to super minister of Power, Works and Housing Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, also, railway lines have been commission, in the same vain, provision of housing for civil servants has witnessed tremendous success.

The administration of President Muhammadu buhari's change agenda has been able to fulfill their campaign promises in the area of social welfare, where the federal government pays the most vulnerable people in the society 5,000 Naira monthly, although the scheme might have been hijacked by politicians whereby they had infused their relatives and or party members into the scheme.



Also in the area of economic, Buhari's administration has been able to develop the nation's economic through the instrumentalities of various economic policies. Agriculture and solid minerals sectors has witnessed tremendous growth thus contributing to the nation's economic, also the school feeding programme for primary schools has contributed to the further development of local businesses.



In the area of Savings, the Nigeria Excess Crude Account and sovereign Wealth Fund has witnessed increments in contrast to what we witnessed under the last administration of Goodluck Jonathan where our general patrimony were depleted.



Through the N-Power programme, federal government have been able to provide over 50,000 jobs for teaming Nigerian youths thus reducing the number of unemployed youths in the country which is one of the cardinal point of Buhari's change agenda.

By and large the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to an extent has been able to keep to its change agenda of revitalizing the economy, fight against corruption and  eradication of Boko Haram terrorists. Suffice to say that the administration has been able to lay fundamental work upon which the next level agenda can ride on towards the full actualization of the change we all hope to witness in Nigeria socio-political environment.

President Muhammadu Buhari's Next Level agenda encompasses continuous development of Nigeria economy through sustaining and improving on existing economic policies of the government which includes provision of loans for entrepreneurs, human capital developments, also in the area of job creation, the Next Level agenda intends to reduce the level of unemployment in the country by creating more jobs for teaming Nigerian youths through skills acquisition, N-Power programme, Ease of Doing Business etc. Further more, the Buhari's Next Level agenda includes completion of infrastructures currently ongoing across the nation, the Next level agenda remain firm on fight against corruption.

In conclusion, Buhari's administration Next Level agenda hinges on continuation on the successes recorded by the change agenda of the government, suffice to say that with the right attitude, dedication and commitment of every stake holders, the change we all hope for would be achieved. The current challenges bedevilling the nation such as the herd-farmer clashes, systematic corruption, unemployment etc are challenges that are surmountable.