Features
Another Bumpy Ride With Buhari Amid Failed Promises
The first task of a statesman is to break campaign promises and disappoint supporters.
– Fiorello La Guardia History beckons again today as General Muhammadu Buhari mounts the saddle to begin his second tenure as Nigeria’s President and Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Expectedly, the popular Eagle Square, located in the heart of the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, will be suffused with pomp, pageantry, and manifold emotions as some band of cheer leaders and praise mangers coalesce with the motley crowd of Buhari’s supporters in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to witness his inaugural in what is yet another bumpy ride with the 76-year old retired General to the next level of hardship and poverty amid a litany of unkept campaign promises. And unless perhaps the Elections Petitions Tribunal decides otherwise in the petition filed by the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, many who have accused the Buhari presidency of soporific redundancy believe that it is going to be another four years of despair and disenchantment.
During his electioneering campaign that culminated in his election and subsequent assumption of office four years ago today, Buhari told anxious Nigerians both home and in the diaspora that his government would fix a dwindling economy, ensure security of lives and properties, especially as it affects the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, and wage serious war against corruption and corrupt practices.
Elected on APC’s ‘change’ mantra, Buhari had also given a roadmap of his governance as being an all-inclusive one that would target Nigeria’s development collectively. Said he: “Having just a few moments ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as president to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”.
In promising change, Buhari, at the inaugural, said: “Today marks a triumph for Nigerians and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad, we have today a truly democratically elected government in place”.
The world listened, heard and clapped, just as Nigerians welcomed him with open hearts and hands. Given his much-orchestrated puritanical – but now, mythical – antecedents, countrymen and women believed him. newspaper headlines read: Sai Buhari (Buhari is the man) to herald his election on the crest wave of unprecedented public optimism in the world’s most populous black nation. Even the talakawas (poor folks) rejoiced the most: One man walked from Lagos to Abuja, another from Yola to Abuja in celebration. Buhari was thus expected to hit the ground running by speedily addressing himself to identifying the nation’s key problems which he promised to confront, by assessing their magnitudes, analyzing them with clear-minded, clear-headed objectivity , and tackling them without continually blaming the past leadership.
But Alas! Four years after, Nigerians are beginning to scrutinize an apparently and soporifically boring Buhari presidency as they have been condemned to do, as a symptom of something fundamentally troubling and inexplicably flawed with the prevailing debilitating conditions of the nation and indeed, its leadership. The reason is not far-fetched. Four years of an administration in an unbroken 20-year democratic journey of a fledgling democracy as Nigeria’s many insist, are enough for it to prove to its beleaguered citizenry whether it will compound their misery or ameliorate their anguish. For this, observers say, Buhari has stretched the patience of Nigerians, most of whom are even saying Babu Buhari (no to Buhari), reversing the phrase (Buhari is the man), even long before the 2019 general elections that resulted to his controversial victory.
Although there have been jubilations among the president’s supporters who argue that his tenure was renewed because he had fulfilled his previous campaign pledges, many Nigerians have continued to question his record in government and his ability and sincerity to deliver on fresh promises of taking Nigeria to the next level. They insist that Buhari cannot be trusted for demonstrating lack of commitment to all the policies his government enunciated for the nation. This has also prompted many who are dissatisfied with his dismal performance to modify the next level slogan to ‘Next level of poverty’ in apparent reference to the harsh economic times Nigerians have gone through under his administration such that the country now wears the undignifying apparel of the poverty capital of the world.
As Buhari assumes the mantle of leadership for his second and last tenure as president he is aware of the fact that not a few Nigerians believe that there is a lot of carryover of challenges from his first tenure which he needs to redouble his efforts in addressing if he must write his name in gold as president.
Surely, he would reel out the score sheet of what his APC-led government perceives as achievement today. But analysts believe that he would only end up receiving more knocks than praises given his reputation for jaded homilies, empty promises, false claims and denials.
Even though the Boko Haram insurgency appears to have been significantly degraded and confined to the North-East, the attacks have continued unabated. This has created humanitarian crisis with rising cases of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North –East region.
Worse still, the rising spates of kidnapping and armed banditry remain serious security challenge which has not been properly addressed. The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu recently said about 685 persons were kidnapped across the country, adding that crime-related incident claimed some 1,071 lives from January to April this year.
The anti-corruption war which the Buhari government claims some success has been perceived by many as lopsided and aimed at inflicting pains on perceived enemies and political opposition. For instance, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed it secured a total of 139 convictions which included two ex-governors, Jolly Nyame (Taraba) and Joshua Dariye (Plateau) between January and June 2018, scandals and corruption cases involving former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke, APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, and Kano State Governor, Abdulahi Ganduje – who was shown in a video that has gone viral receiving bribe in dollars – have either been glossed over or filed away. Curiously, the EFCC has never relented in its bid to investigate the finances of the Peoples Democratic Party – controlled Rivers and Akwa Ibom State governments. Small wonder then that even with all the hoopla about Buhari’s anti-graft war, Transparency International, TI, in its latest corruption perception index indicated that Nigeria only moved from 148th position in 2017 to 144th in 2018.
The economic scene is yet another area that the Buhari government has failed to acquit itself creditably. Apart from its inability to provide power and three million jobs yearly as promised, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria says 50 of the 272 firms closed down due to the government’s adverse operational conditions and incoherent economic policy. And according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), by December 2018, unemployment rate had risen to 23.1 percent with no fewer than 20.9 million Nigerians, especially young people living without jobs.
It was revealed in June 2018 by the Washington-based Brookings Institution that Nigeria had overtaken India as a nation with the highest number of people living in extreme poverty across the world, with an estimated 86.9 million people measured to be living on less than $1.25 (N381.25) a day.
Four years after, the Buhari government has shown that it lacks sound economic expertise to open up the economy for Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) and job creation. Instead, public debt, according to data released from the Debt Management Office (DMO) rose by N7.1 trillion in his first two years in office. And the debt is still rising as government resorts to borrowing for infrastructure funding and recurrent expenditure. With the country’s debt currently estimated at about 80 billion, the Buhari administration has been receiving knocks for borrowing within three years, more than what the leaching opposition party borrowed in 16 years while in power.
Other promises made by the Buhari government about poverty alleviation, education, social welfare, health, etc, have turned out to be farce. Last year the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr Bill Gates alerted that Nigeria was one of the most dangerous places to give birth, with the fourth worst maternal rate in the world, ahead of only Sierra Leone, Central Africa Republic, and Chad. Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari had also within the same period dismissed the country’s healthcare delivery system much the same way she recently picked hole in the implementation of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme (SIP) which includes the N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfers, National Home-Grown School Feeding and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP). Even the ‘Trader Moni scheme launched few months to the 2019 elections had also been severely criticized as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo moved from market to market doling out N10,000 to traders in selected parts of the country in what many see as vote buying by other means rather than a poverty alleviation programme.
Added to that is the contentious fuel subsidy regime which has become something of a scam involving top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, gulping over a N1.4trillion annually. Critics wonder why the Buhari administration spends so huge an amount of money without appropriation compared with the Jonathan government that made adequate budgetary provision for subsidy payment.
Even at that the Buhari government is yet to heed the recent advice of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Nigeria and other countries still subsidizing fuel for domestic consumption should stop to do so to help boost revenue and improve on local infrastructure development.
More worrisome is the fact that Buhari has never kept his words as president to all Nigerians. Nepotism, sectionalism, tribalism, religious bigotry, witch-hunting, Clannishness, fulanisation (apologies to Obasanjo) and any imaginable vice, many insist, have eroded his brand and whatever was remaining of his integrity. Nothing really evinces this more than his unwavering support for Miyetti Allah and the Fulani herdsmen.
Buhari had also further made nonsense of his inauguration day promise that, “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” when in an interview with CNN in the early days of his administration, he declared that he was not going to give equal attention to those that gave him “97 per cent” vote with those that gave him “5 per cent” Aside fencing up his presidency with relatives, acolytes and appointees from his native North-West, he, in flagrant and arrogant disregard for Nigeria’s ethnic and sectarian diversity, has ensured that only Northerners fill-up juicy positions in the top hierarchy of the nation’s security agencies as well as vacancies in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
With this posturing and several unkept promises, many analysts believe that Nigerians will have embarked on another bumpy ride with Buhari who now faces tougher tenure as president.
Victor Tew
It has been 25 years of impactful development of the Niger Delta region, facilitated by theNiger Delta Development Commission. NDDC. Without doubt, it has been a remarkable journey, marked by significant milestones and daunting challenges.
For the past week, the NDDC has been celebrating its achievements, beginning with a thanksgiving service in Akure, Ondo State, on July 6, drawing stakeholders and Niger Deltans to express gratitude to God for the Commission’s journey so far.
Taking off on the wings of the Oil Minerals Development Commission, OMPADEC, in 2000, the NDDC has grown into a symbol of federal presence in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
The celebration moved from spiritual reflection and thanksgiving to strategic communication, with a World Press Conference held in Asaba, Delta State, on Monday, the 7th of July. There, members of the Fourth Estate across all media gathered in what was perhaps the most extensive media engagement of its kind. The NDDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to its motto of “making a difference.”
Dr. Ogbuku stated, “The President gave us a matching order during our inauguration to positively turn things around in the Niger Delta region.” That presidential directive, he noted, continues to guide the Board and Management as they pursue legacy projects across the region.
From electricity restoration in Ondo to road linkages in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom, the NDDC’s impact was showcased in clear, tangible terms. “We commissioned the 45-km double-circuit 33KV feeder line from Omotosho Power Station to Okitipupa in Ondo State,” Dr. Ogbuku recalled, “bringing electricity back to 25 local governments after 15 years in darkness.” This was just one of several landmark interventions highlighted during the press briefing, underscoring the Commission’s renewed vigour under the current leadership.
The Managing Director spoke candidly about the setbacks caused by years of instability in leadership. “Frequent changes in management and boards have slowed our progress,” he admitted. “But today, we are targeting legacy projects. Our mandate is to complete those critical projects.” He emphasised that the Commission had transitioned from a transactional mindset to one of transformation, including the digitisation of procurement processes to ensure transparency and accountability.
Other top executives echoed similar sentiments. The Chairman of the Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, stressed the importance of collaboration, particularly with the media, whom he described as “critical stakeholders” in advancing development. Alabo Boma Iyaye, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, noted that the celebrations would run until Saturday, July 12, culminating in a gala night and plenary session in Port Harcourt.
Perhaps, the most significant message from the silver jubilee celebration is the renewed hope that the Niger Delta can finally experience holistic and sustainable development.
According to Ogbuku, “Through the initiative of the Board and Management, we have restructured the administrative architecture of the Commission to its 13 statutory Directorates, introduced robust Corporate Governance protocols… This formalised a value- driven institutional culture anchored on ethics and performance.”
As the weeklong celebrations continue across different states in the region, the NDDC appears determined not just to celebrate its past but to chart a bold course for the future.
The people of the Niger Delta are watching, hopeful that the next 25 years will be defined not by promises, but by lasting progress that transforms lives and communities, truly making a difference.
The celebration also featured a movie premiere titled “Making a Difference”, which traced the Commission’s journey and told stories of transformation in communities once plagued by underdevelopment. For many observers, the film served as both an emotional tribute and a powerful reminder of the NDDC’s role in shaping the destiny of the region.
The Governing Board and management of the NDDC have again proven to Nigerians, particularly the people of the oil-bearing Niger Delta region, that history does matter. They have also shown clearly that extraordinary personalities can upturn calculations and permutations. The above assertion was evidenced by the torrents of praises, accolades, and commendations poured on the Commission and its management and board by critical stakeholders during its week-long 25th anniversary celebration.
Beginning with Ondo State, one of the NDDC mandate states, Ondo Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, hailed the management of the NDDC for the peace and development currently prevailing in the Niger Delta region. He said the Commission, under the current management and board, has succeeded in bridging developmental gaps in the region, noting that NDDC’s emphasis on partnerships and collaboration aimed at driving sustainable development across the Niger Delta has ushered in unprecedented progress.
Aiyedatiwa, who spoke at the Thanksgiving Service of the NDDC held at St Thomas’s Anglican Church, Akure, the Ondo State capital, stressed that the commission has undoubtedly lived up to its established mandate, commending the Board and Management for their exemplary leadership and commitment.
The Governor hailed the commission’s commitment and dedication to project conception, implementation, and completion, noting that the NDDC has established a culture of delivery and the region would no longer witness abandonment of projects as was the case in the past.
He said, “As we celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the NDDC, we must acknowledge the progress we have made and also recognise that there is still much work to be done as the Niger Delta region continues to face significant development challenges and we must work together to address these issues. “I urge the NDDC to continue to improve on its activities, ensuring that projects are tailored to the needs of the communities we serve. Let us work together to unlock the potential of our region, promote economic growth and enhance the lives of our people. We are partners in progress, unity and development.”
From Ondo State to Asaba, the Delta State capital, it was the same rain of praises. The Asaba monarch, the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Epiphany Azinge, on his part, was full of praises for the NDDC for its achievements in the past 25 years.
Obi Azinge spoke when Ebie led a delegation of the Commission’s Board and Management to pay a courtesy visit to him in his palace in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The Royal Father commended the NDDC for its intervention in several sectors across the Niger Delta region.
He expressed delight with the foreign postgraduate scholarship programme, which had helped many youths from the Niger Delta upgrade their knowledge.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the NDDC Chairman, whom he said had served the Delta State Government in different capacities. He noted that Ebie served meritoriously as Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education and later, Secretary to the State Government. The monarch thanked the NDDC for selecting Asaba as the venue for some of the activities marking its 25th anniversary, such as a press conference and the movie premiere.
Earlier, the NDDC Board Chairman congratulated Asagba on his ascension to the throne of his forefathers, saying he was eminently qualified for the position. Ebie expressed optimism that the Asagba’s reign would bring good tidings to Asaba, which serves as both a Kingdom and the capital of Delta State.
He stated that the NDDC had come of age and was now a big brother to the new development agencies in Nigeria’s geo-political zones. Ebie disclosed that as part of the silver jubilee celebration, the Commission was going around the nine States of the Niger Delta.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer pledged that the NDDC’s commitment to adhering strictly to the President’s directive to the Commission to complete all ongoing projects in the region, including roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities. He disclosed that the Commission was engaging all stakeholders to ensure harmony and cooperation in the task of developing the hitherto neglected Niger Delta region.
He noted that, ”It is not only by our efforts; it is the collaborative efforts from all the stakeholders who believe the time has come when there should be stability in the NDDC and that stability is a challenge to us to ensure that we deliver development to the people of the Niger Delta region.”
Ifeatu Agbu
Agbu wrote in from Port Harcourt.
The mandate of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is to facilitate the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region, while that of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is to investigates financial crimes and put corrupt practices in check.
Given their different roles, the idea of an alliance between the two organisations may seem far-fetched. However, with the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, and the EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Olanikpekun Olukoyede, it is not just an idea; it is a reality.
The unique collaboration between the NDDC and the EFCC has given rise to the Renewed Hope Multi-Purpose Training Centre, unveiled on Tuesday at Otuokpoti Community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
According to the NDDC Managing Director, the vast training complex was executed with funds recovered on behalf of the Commission by the EFCC.
Ogbuku explained that the Bayelsa training centre was funded through the money recovered by the EFCC and executed under a signed performance bond, ensuring transparency and impact. He noted that the facility represented one of several such centres being constructed in Delta and Rivers States. He said: “We have similar facilities currently under construction in Odi, Bayelsa State, while the ones in Delta State are being built in Patani and Ozorro and another two in Rivers State.”
He observed that the Multi-Purpose Training Centre, which was completed in record time, was a partnership between the EFCC and the NDDC, as the anti-crime agency had recovered the funds that facilitated the project’s execution.
Ogbuku observed that the facility, which could accommodate 1,000 persons, represented a significant step toward empowering local communities through skills development and inclusive growth.
The training centre’s components, which include a school, hospital, cafeteria, police post, and recreational centre, are all designed to support training, healthcare, and emergency accommodation within a single integrated complex.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the EFCC Chairman assured the NDDC of the release of more recovered funds in the coming weeks.
Olukoyede described the NDDC as a “renewed and transformed government agency.” He assured that the EFCC would do everything to recover all outstanding statutory contributions due to the NDDC from oil companies.
He noted: “We have made several recoveries on behalf of the NDDC, and we will not relent in this direction. We are encouraged by the fact that the NDDC is making the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government a reality in the Niger Delta region.”
Olukoyede commended the NDDC for its institutional and policy reforms, declaring that the people of the Niger Delta will have every reason to celebrate the current leadership of the Commission. He described the NDDC as a beacon of good governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He noted: “The Niger Delta is the goose that lays the golden egg and should not be denied the benefits of that golden egg. On our part at the EFCC, we must do everything within our power to ensure that the three per cent statutory contribution due to the NDDC is recovered and handed over to the Commission. We are going to continue supporting you.”
He said further: “Under this President, NDDC is working; good governance is being delivered. It is my delight to be part of this transformational agenda. The Renewed Hope Agenda is no longer a slogan—it is a reality. For the first time, people are identifying with what NDDC is doing.”
Olukoyede commended the NDDC, saying the Commission has refined its processes to uphold the principles of probity. This aligns with the agency’s head’s emphasis on upholding transparency and accountability in the country’s affairs.
The Chairman of the anti-crime agency confessed that his perspective on the NDDC was turned around in 2024, when the NDDC management, led by Ogbuku, paid him a courtesy visit at the EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja.
Olukoyede stated that he was impressed by the Commission’s “Rewind to Rebirth” initiative.
He declared: “The five minutes of interaction with the MD left me with a different perception of NDDC. Maybe, we will begin to see an NDDC that is a symbol of pride, accountability, transparency and able to deliver on its mandate.
“From his presentation, you can see that he is ready to bring a change, and that is the exact thing that we stand for in EFCC.”
Assuring that the EFCC would continue to assist the NDDC to achieve its mandate, he said: “We have been working with you to make recoveries; we will continue to do more.
“The collaboration is something we need to take to the next level, and with what you have put on the table I think we are ready to work with you to strengthen your systems and processes and to take the NDDC to the next level.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, praised the NDDC Board and Management for their unity of purpose and commitment to service delivery, stating that the level of harmony and stability within the Commission is unprecedented.
He declared: “What we are witnessing here today has never happened in the history of the NDDC. Since I assumed office as Minister, I have not been called upon to settle any crisis within the Commission. This is a testament to the teamwork between the Board and Management.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, emphasised the human capital development focus of the two projects commissioned, noting that reforming the NDDC is an ongoing but rewarding process.
He stated: “We are moving from transaction to transformation. We are doing our best to improve not just the reputation of the NDDC, but everything that concerns the Commission. Today is about promoting and celebrating human capacity.”
Without a doubt, the Niger Delta region is confronted with ecological and environmental challenges that should, perforce, attract significant funds from the Federal Government and the oil companies operating in the region.
Sadly, this has not been so, thus limiting the capacity of the NDDC to fulfill its mandate of driving the development process and transforming the Niger Delta region into one that is “economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.”
It is rather unfortunate that, despite the spirited efforts by successive boards and managements of the NDDC to meet the expectations of the people, their efforts have not been matched with commensurate funding.
The issue of inadequate funding is resurfacing again. Indeed, it is an inconvenient truth that will remain on the front burner until it is fully addressed.
That explains why the NDDC Managing Director highlighted the issue during interactive sessions that the Commission’s Board and Management held with the relevant Committees of the National Assembly in Abuja last year.
Ogbuku told the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC, chaired by Hon. Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake, that the Commission is owed over N2 trillion, arising from withheld funds and underpayments by both the government and the oil companies. He blamed this on non-compliance with the Act establishing the Commission.
Given the enormous impact of their activities on the environment, the oil companies are expected to be at the forefront in the critical task of urgently developing the oil basin that has suffered so much neglect in the past. It is, in fact, in their interest to develop the communities where they operate to guarantee peace, which is very necessary for them to continue with their work.
Thankfully, both the Senate and the House of Representatives promised to assist the NDDC in recovering its outstanding funds. In their various interactions with the NDDC leadership, the lawmakers expressed concern about the disregard for existing laws governing the Commission’s funding.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, expressed displeasure over the disregard for the law by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and promised to call them to order.
The Senate Committee Chairman stated that proper funding would help NDDC to adequately address the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region, noting that the challenge of developing the region was enormous and that all relevant contributors to the NDDC must play their roles diligently.
Senator Ekpenyong said that in discharging its oversight functions, his committee will ensure that every contributor to NDDC pays what they owe the Commission, “because we cannot afford to toy with the development of that very important region. We owe it to the country to make sure that we improve the living conditions of the people of the region.”
It is reassuring to note that both chambers of the National Assembly are concerned about the pressing funding challenges facing the NDDC and are taking steps to address the situation.
The lawmakers understand that we have a responsibility to adequately fuel the vehicle chosen to drive the development process in the Niger Delta region.
In 2023, the House of Representatives unveiled plans to investigate the activities of International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the Niger Delta region, as well as the recovery of over $4 billion allegedly owed to the NDDC.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Donald Kimikanboh Ojogo, who frowned at the flagrant breach of the NDDC Act, 2000, which was established in response to heightened agitations and violent yearnings for special intervention in the oil-producing states.
He said: “The House is aware that the indebtedness of the IOCs to the NDDC had culminated in the drive by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to commence the debt recovery process.
By Ifeatu Agbu
