Nigeria: #AtikulatedObi Provides The Answer To Our National Predicament- Good Governance, Economic Development.

"Social inclusion, a well functioning democracy and a high investing business system supported by a long-termist financial sector are not optional extras; they are interdependent and fundamental necessities. We should not rest until we have them"-Will Hutton. Photo: Facebook
Good things happen at the right time. The truth is that Nigeria is going to go on growing so we can't keep things as they are, there must be a radical shift from the past. Today there is urgent need for wholesome reform/restructuring of the whole system to address the ''nightmare scenario of a failure to accomplish economic development''. #AtikulatedObi ticket provides the answer to this national predicament-investments in the future. President Buhari represents the old school-power grabs, a cabal or groups at the top of our society who fear that their interests might suffer if our political system were to be made 'more humane and productive', this is not the future. Sadly some of his friends who share this belief in the past have abandoned that barbaric idea having recognised the need for a new Nigeria that needs to address the interconnectedness of trust, governance and economic growth. The current government under President Buhari has failed all the dimensions of 'good governance, democracy, the rule of law, corruption and economic growth'. Today the country is trapped in the past, the reasons for the current pains and stagnation; insecurity, mass unemployment, persistence of poverty, fracturing, political bias and favouritism, continuing wastes on patronage politics, full blown dictatorship, steady deterioration of the economy, lack of open, transparent and accountable government. The statement Atiku is making is that the future must be better than the present; political modernity, inclusiveness, investments, high employment, new skills, economic growth and stability. Furthermore, there is the danger that our society/country is now weakening in the ties that bind it together, full blown dictatorship and deteriorating economy so there's urgent need to address the political system and put the country's public finances on a sustainable footing. No one is going to invest in a political climate of fear and terror. #AtikulatedObi is the only sure way to discontinue with the legacy of past mistakes. The pair are loaded with rich experience in public and private sector development and growth so are best positioned to address the centrality of good governance and economic development. I pray we embrace this choice . In Nigeria today trust is broken, people don't seem to trust the government leading to hightened agitation for restructuring and separation, without trust there's no business, trust leads to better quality of government to deliver social good to all citizens, AtikulatedObi has shown leadership in this direction. #AtikulatedObi will provide the leadership that can serve all stakeholders of the society, provide investments and political climate that will drive investor confidence and reposition Nigeria as new destination for global trade and investments and provide young people the opportunity of growth policies, infrastructure, better public services including education and healthcare services to benefit from the opportunities of the global economy. Young people in Nigeria need relevant investments-infrastructure,education, new knowledge, new skills training especially growing set of digital tools for globalisation; the economy of the future- trade, financial markets, foreign direct investments, basically the pair are very familiar with these concepts and are in the best position to manage both the risks and opportunity it presents, so this is the leadership desperatly needed for the future. The current government in Nigeria poses political and economic risks, and having rejected restructuring we must reject it come 2019 and embrace a new leadership that will address the interconnectedness of trust, governance and growth. The new century requires leaders with very good understanding of the "complex, interconnected challenges that governments face in delivering stability and prosperity", getting it wrong poses economic and human consequences as we are currently witnessing under APCs government in Nigeria.  Politics and Economics are interrelated, just like markets, it has rules that must be transparently and properly applied to get it right, the first basic step is leadership, so ordinary people need to be well-informed to make better choices about the future. In the words of Professor Richard Thomas Griffiths; "If access to, and participation in a political process is open and transparent, and that as a result government discharges its functions fairly and effectively; it will make ethnic, linguistic and religious differences less important politically, and as a result, it will reinforce levels of generalized trust"- [Professor Richard Thomas Griffiths; Political Economy of Institutions and Development; Universiteit Leiden]. Today Good Governance is not an option we must embrace it by addressing the dysfunctional political system which promotes bad governance, this starts with a new leadership that will guarantee citizens right not violently repressing them. Restructuring/Constitutional change is citizens right, its not a gift of the federal government. I learnt Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigeneous People of Biafra (IPOB), has started his trade-mark rhetorics, The time has come for him to re-think his strategy. He should demonstrate the willingness to co-operate and work with the progressives, #AtikulatedObi alliance, this is a sure positive step because you need freedom to agitate for your rights. The Africa's most populous country presents great opportunity, if there is good governance that will leverage global partnerships to achieve economic growth and lift its citizens out of poverty.  We have addressed the issue of corruption, this APC's government is also not free of corruption given abundant evidences. #AtikulatedObi understands democratic governance,corruption, the rule of law and human rights and the urgent need to build strong institutions that will address corruption devoid of political bias and favouritism for political gains, that's the whole point. We must learn to look at the positives instead of the negatives. #AtikulatedObi has proven qualities of knowledge economy, empathy, diplomacy and leadership needed to achieve economic growth, so this should be our focus.  I told my friend who was sharing long CV's of Professors on Social Media , that what matters is not just long CV's but job/wealth creation. The owners of Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Alibaba, Microsoft etc don't have long CV's but they've changed the world with creativity, and innovation, even President Trump doesn't have a very long CV but American Economy is very strong and unemployment is at low record levels, Atiku can replicate same in Nigeria given his proven entrepreneurial and leadership skills. Experience and expertise is very essential.
Sixtus Uche Okeke is a Statistician, Social Entrepreneur/Political Economist, the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation and the Author of Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable-'Bribe & Bullet'. What Can Be Done About It.