By Tunde Johnson, Abuja
A civil society group, Sage Africa, has said President Muhammadu Buhari should focus on fulfilling his electoral promises, noting that he has not done enough to deserve re-election.
The group cautioned the President against nursing the hope of a second term in office at this point in time when Nigerians are disillusioned with his administration, describing it as “lacking coherence.”
Joshua Asubiojo, Sage Africa Director, who said this in Abuja, observed that government action and policies had worsened the unemployment rate in the country, adding that “a record number of Nigerians had lost their jobs under this government.”
The activist cited the termination of the contract between the Nigerian Ports Authority and Intels Nigeria Ltd., noting that the move was meant to cripple the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who owned the firm.
Asubiojo argued that the action of the government constituted a breach of the binding contract between the firm and NPA, stressing that the sacking of Intels and the revocation of its expatriates’ residency was “malicious and done in bad faith.”
He said the deportation threat against the expatriates working in Intels would send a wrong message to foreign investors about the political and economic climate in the country.
Asubiojo said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has not done enough to deserve a second term in office; he has largely failed to fulfill his electoral promise.
“He has also failed to empower the youths as he promised. A high number of agencies are without heads, making them directionless.
“Buhari’s plan to seek re-election is a slap on Nigerians’ (faces).”
Clive Igbinevbo, Sage Africa South-South Coordinator, said the sacking of Intels might worsen the unemployment rate in the region and lead to more job losses across the country.
“The government should be taking decisions that would attract investment and create jobs, rather than embarking on punitive action against business owners who are seen as constituting a threat to the President’s second term ambition,” Igbinevbo noted.
