A lecturer with the department of political science, Sa’idu Ahmad Dukawa, has enumerated the challenges that characterised the All Progressives Congress, APC, led administration in its 2-year lifespan.
Mr Dukawa said all the three tiers of government have shared in the failures of this administration, despite the initial developments recorded at the take-up of the government.
In a paper titled “Challenges of two year administration of APC and way forward,” the don however proffered solution that would uncoil the protracted challenges, which impede the fulfillment of the campaign promises of the administration.
The paper, presented at the Post-Ramadan Walimah organised by APC Project Nigeria, it started with the incipient successes of renewed hopes and confidence on the side of Nigerians, prosecutions of financial defaulters as well as the boosted activities of the EFCC in tackling corrupt Nigerians.
But while turning to the challenges, Mr Dukawa segmented them to each arm of government, with the legislature leading the way.
“From the onset, the National Assembly was engrossed in leadership tussle; nearly a year was wasted in power struggle between various factions of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the Party leadership.
“The budget padding allegations also took almost a year of intrigues; allegation of corruption and false declaration of assets against the Senate President, Ahmad Bukola Saraki, was no less significant in diverting the attention of the Senate from the serious business of legislation.
“Both Chambers will be remembered by their authoritarian tendencies of suspending whistle blowers among their ranks thereby demeaning the Government’s anti-corruption posture; the House suspended Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa, while the Senate suspended Senator Ali Ndumi, each for his role in raising alarm on a perceived wrong doing by their colleagues and compatriots,” he said.
While turning to the executive, the don said “Some of President’s personal aids have been focal points of criticisms from several stakeholders and other concerned citizens; some of the complaints against them arose from powerful quarters such as the Wife of the President.
“This suggests there must be something fundamentally wrong either with them as persons or with their approach of doings things as public servants; either way it warrants the attention of Mr. President, but if he had paid any at all it must be a lip service.”
With regards to the complicity of the judiciary, he said “If it has put any mechanism in place to help the cause of the government in its war against corruption that has not been made public.
“It is known to drag its legs in dispatching cases of high profile corruption before the courts.”
He however offered way to remedy the situation, saying that “The first thing that needs to be done is to reconnect government with the party; revitalise the party by availing it with sufficient funds.
“Task it with resuscitating its structure from top to bottom; let it conduct all necessary meetings and even convention; and let it embark on a reconciliation project with regards to all cases of internal squabbles.”
He advised that the APC government should “fill all vacant positions with the right people and with the active collaboration of the party.
“Those already in government need to sit up in terms of doing the right thing and availing the public with what they are doing.
“Let government look into its campaign promises as well as the party manifesto and let it re-direct policy towards achieving them.”
