Restructuring the country, reviewing the existing security architecture and fighting corruption and adopting more realistic approaches to addressing food insecurity top the wish list of statesmen and thought leaders from the Los Patriotas group and elsewhere. interested, to President Bola. Tinubu in the new year.
Stakeholders such as a Pan Yoruba socio-political organization chief, Chief Tokunboh Ajasin, and the national secretary of the South Western Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA), Honorable Bosun Oladele, listed security, power, economy, hyperinflation and creation employment as other strategic sectors that can boost the economy and promote good governance.
Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune, the Chairman of the Patriots Defense Committee, Professor Anthony Kila, said the New Year offers a real opportunity for the Tinubu administration and other prominent politicians in the country to put smiles back on the faces of the people after a traumatic year.
“2025 will be an essential year to test the reforms of the Bola Tinunbu administration and the resilience of many Nigerian politicians. By the end of 2025, many will be able to conclude whether this administration's reforms are bold steps toward redemption or reckless moves toward perdition,” Professor Kila said.
He called on the political elite to re-evaluate their current lifestyle, which he said is in stark contrast to the grim economic reality facing Nigerians to avoid dire consequences.
“The Nigerian political class and elite will be advised to lead by example. With cuts and the elimination of various subsidies, the elite must lead the rest in controlling their exuberant lifestyles, otherwise they risk provoking envy, crime and rebellion.
“It is also time to shift attention from the consumption of foreign products and services to the consumption of foreign products and services made in Nigeria.
“Failure to resort to consumption made in Nigeria will render all efforts to reduce the pressure on our naira unproductive.
“A third thing the Nigerian elite can lead is to focus on investment and job creation in Nigeria.
“Government at all levels should be seen as encouraging and assisting any business aimed at creating jobs in Nigeria. The media must identify and celebrate those who create jobs and wealth.
“For the sake of Nigeria, opposition parties need to wake up and revitalize, not to create chaos but to offer verifiable alternatives and pressure the government to improve.
“Everyone must seriously consider law and order in 2025, because without law and order, all efforts will be like putting water in a leaky bucket.”
Similarly, Ajasin said Nigeria should be restructured to reflect the ideals of a federal system of government to foster stability and achieve significant economic growth and development.
He said authorities should not ignore the growing demand for restructuring because it underlines the main challenges facing the country.
He agreed with the Patriots on the need to curb corruption among public officials and advised the Tinubu administration to aim for zero tolerance towards corruption in the New Year.
“The government should address corruption head-on; launch a specific program to eradicate corruption to a minimum and with the aim of achieving zero tolerance for corruption. It should also reduce the interest rate, strengthen the Naira and drastically reduce inflation as well as improve security by providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, especially for farmers on their farms,” Chief Ajasin added.
He called for a national reorientation of values, both at the individual and corporate levels, and the passage of tax reform bills, adding: “Once the tax reform bills go well, we will already be on the path to restructuring the economy and, indeed, the economy.” country.”
Honorable Oladele, leader of SWAGA and former member of the House of Representatives, advised the government elite at all levels to drive investment in healthcare to ensure access for citizens regardless of their social status; to affordable, quality healthcare.
On agriculture, he called on state governments to stop paying lip service to agribusiness and “spread big talk about their intentions and interests in agriculture.
“If Governor Muhammed Umaru Bago of Niger State could do it, nothing will stop other governors from implementing programs and policies that ensure more than enough food in their states.
“Most governors are still talking about the intention to provide policy documents and plans for agriculture and the agricultural value chain while their term lasts almost two years,” he said.
“Those in government must continue to improve our security architecture and ensure that a police officer cannot interact with citizens without a body camera to ensure professionalism and credibility in the performance of their duties. “Finally, our army must be encouraged and well motivated to combat banditry and terrorism wherever they exist in our country,” he urged.
Chief Femi Aborisade, a pro-democracy and human rights activist, said the elite's priority should be to “make Nigeria better” through “policy change in governance and in particular in five areas: poverty alleviation, immediate reduction in fuel prices, increase in exports.” and reduction of unnecessary imports, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will regain power over currency and electricity stability.
“The western region of Nigeria was the richest of the three regions due to cocoa export and great management skills. Under Awolowo, agriculture was greatly promoted and developed and farmers were encouraged in many ways. They proclaimed the farmers kings and treated them like that,” Aborisade said.
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