Thank you, Mr President -By Abdullahi Usman

From the pressive sun of Sokoto to the ever-present coolness of Jos, northern Nigeria and 2021 started as total strangers, but ending with an affectionate embrace of sweet memories. As the year is gradually saying goodbye, it stands out as the best year in Buhari’s 7-year administration. The statue of President Muhammadu Buhari should be erected in all states’ capitals. This is how great leaders are revered world over.

American entrepreneur and author, Jim Rohn, said that “a good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do better”. In this case, we have found a good leader in President Buhari, for he has been improving the life of every average Nigerian. Hold on, I am not saying this without reasons. I have many of them.

In his 2021 New Year Speech, the president reiterated his promise to secure Nigerians, that his administration “will not relent in learning and adapting to changing threats to our national security and civic wellbeing”. In less than a month, he replaced the service chiefs. The successes recorded thereafter were unprecedented. Today, Nigerians travel to anywhere at any time without the fear of any danger. Even the decade-long Boko Haram insurgency has become history. Do you expect anything less from a veteran war General, whose exploits during the Nigerian Civil War are still fresh in the mind of many Nigerians?

Those trying to subvert the efforts of this administration toward securing this country should bury their heads in shame, as Nigeria will continue to be peaceful under the able and visionary leadership of Mr. President.

Before this administration, only few Nigerians could own one million naira. Now, many youths, especially nomads in the forests of Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna etc. accumulate millions of naira –thanks to the lucrative business of kidnapping and banditry. Many unemployed youths in these areas have become self-reliant. This sort of enterprise took place even in the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy, which clearly showed a good rapport between the army and the civilians. Job creation and agriculture are indeed given priority by this government. In this respect, we can also say the president has done as he promised, when he said in 2015 that his government will “attack the problem (of unemployment) frontally through revival of agriculture…”.

Again, this year will never be forgotten by students. Many of them got the privilege of being taken to excursion—a special excursion. I call it special because in previous years there was no avenue for carrying out that important journey. Government Science College Kagara students were the first to go in the early hours of February, 17. Less than ten days later, 279 female students of Jangebe followed suit. This excursion continued in quick succession up to the end of the year. To patriotic Nigerians, who know the value of education, this is a welcome development. And the president should be applauded for a job well done.
On corruption, the president said that: “the level of corruption in Nigeria is intolerable and we will make sure we succeed in fighting corruption when we get there.” This administration has succeeded in curtailing the level of corruption among Nigerians to the lowest ebb. Even Nigerian animals don’t engage in corrupt practices anymore!

Few days ago, when the president came back after spending sixteen days between Europe and South Africa, my brother asked me how Buhari is combining the ever-demanding work of the two positions he holds: President of Nigeria and Minister of Petroleum Resources. I told him that the man is workaholic since his military days, and he would soon take over one additional ministry: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has made many connections around the world, and the country should benefit from his international reputation, I added.

Finally, as 2022 draws near, the leader of the masses has given the nation some glad tidings, through the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, that there will be a gargantuan reduction of the pump price of petrol in the new year. This is to reiterate Buhari’s lifelong stand that the price of petrol per litre should not cost more that the price of petrol per litre should not cost more than N40.

USMAN IS A 300 LEVEL STUDENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE FROM FEDERAL UNIVERSITY DUTSE.