OF 2023 POLITICAL PROJECTIONS COMING TOO EARLY. By SALVAGE NIGERIA GROUP.

"An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force"

Newton's 2nd law of motion.

The advent of democracy in 1999 opened a new vista. It rekindled hope as Nigeria was or perhaps thought to be positioned on the path of an all inclusive policy making process, which is one of the outcomes of a genuine democracy. Nigerians, having been through several tumultous autocratic regimes were merely going along while eagerly awaiting socioeconomic transformations as a direct consequence of having a Democratic government.

 Programs and strategies such as SEEDS, NEEDS were introduced in 2004 and were also incorporated into global agendas for sustainable economic growth.

 However, the Olusegun Obasanjo led administration at the time figured that the people who represented the core of these strategies needed to be aware of the policies to ensure its successful implementation. Hence, in 2005, it created the National Orientation Agency of Nigeria, a body tasked with the function of communicating government policy, gather public opinion, and promote patriotism, national unity, and development of Nigerian society.

The motto "Do the right thing: transform Nigeria" permeated every strata of the society.

The administration sought that "Due Process" is followed in all public institutions to stem the tide of corruption. Several agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC were created and empowered to investigate financial crimes and other corrupt practices deeply enmeshed in the system for untoward prosecution in the law courts. It was agreeable to a reasonable extent that with these relevant institutions in place, Nigeria was on the path of recovery and growth.

 The economic indices at the time proved it and international observers opined that Nigeria has indeed taken her place as the giant of Africa.

This earned Chief Olusegun Obasanjo a great deal of respect in Africa and globally to date. Obasanjo alongside his Vice, Atiku Abubakar at the time assembled a vibrant team, inarguably the best team yet since the advent of democracy in 1999.

A team the Late Yaradua inherited and even the erstwhile President, Goodluck Jonathan worked with to earn Nigeria the best economy in Africa and the third fastest growing economy in the world. But for a never before seen vicious propaganda orchestrated against the Goodluck administration, perhaps, Nigerians would have inquired the considerations of the OPEC in the choice of our Petroleum minister as its President, or why even after office, several of his cabinet members were appointed by International organizations like IMF, AFDB to mention a few.

 It is worrisome to note that this propaganda machinery was fully set in motion in the wake of the year 2012 in response to the fuel subsidy removal, three years before a possible democratic change in government through the ballot. The memories linger in the heart of Nigerians as the people witnessed for the first time a great deal of abuse and reckless speeches against the highest seat. The political space was filled with projections which will be actualized by any means necessary including widespread killings in the Northeast and pinned on the incumbent at the time, hate speeches and public incitement in the north.

 Unsubstantiated allegations rent the media space in the south and an eventual amalgamation of both culminating in a clamour for "change" led to the emergence of APC's Buhari as the fourth democratically elected President in 2015.

 The  subsequent abysmal performance was therefore not surprising to patriotic observers.

The electoral promises which remained unfulfilled to date, the continued killings, widespread corruption and insensitivity to the grime realities Nigerians face day after day, the subverted justice system, the declined economic growth, the weakened institutions and ailing diplomatic relationships to mention a few calls for urgent action.

It is therefore laughable that the progenitors of the evil in the land are the saints of today feigning political correctness and wishing away projections for a shift from the disaster they foisted on Nigerians.

 It makes one come to terms with the stark reality that man can be uncontrollably mean and selfish.

The APC has proven time and again that it is not in the interest of Nigerians and they mainly constitute power grabbers only out to win elections at whatever cost.

This trend if allowed to go on unchallenged, will see Nigerians resigning to fate and normalising deviation from our democratic tenets.

This is a solemn call to all stakeholders, patriotic Nigerians home and in diaspora, civil groups, human right activists, political parties especially the main opposition party, the PDP,  religious bodies, Labour unions, professional bodies to rise up in defence of our common patrimony, and to provide the "unbalanced force" required to salvage the remnants of our institutions occasioned by the current inept administration using democratic instruments come 2023.

It is only natural and logical at this time to have a baseline PROJECTION that Nigeria will get back on TRACK and attain a faster growth rate.

To achieve this, it is also pertinent to have an early start working out the hows.

THE GRAND DECEPTION MUST BE DISCONTINUED