Unbroken peaceful reign, prolonged political stability, sustainable mutual co-existence and consistent socio-economic policies are part of the assurances domestic and international investors need to be sure their hard-earned funds and investments will not only be safe but would also thrive wherever they are established. No sensible investor – local or foreign, will freely choose to invest in a country ravaged by war, corruption, famine, diseases, high mortality rate, rising crime rate, inconsistent economic policies, political instability and business–unfriendly tax regime.
In essence, no sane person, no matter how opulent, will invest in an inclement business environment where safety of his investments and staff cannot be guaranteed. Safety is not limited to only investments. Every activity in life that involves countries, governments, societies, organisations, groups and individuals, can take place successfully only in conducive environments. Even whenever animals perceive an environment to be unsafe, they clearly and promptly avoid going there until perhaps the place is declared safe for them.
This was particularly why at various times in recent past, crucial bilateral sub-regional, regional or international meetings and sporting events earlier scheduled to hold in certain countries were later shifted to safe locations due to serious life-threatening crises rocking such countries. This is why no matter how important a programme or an event is its success or otherwise will be determined as soon as certain unforeseen ugly symptoms, occurrences or developments start to manifest. Just recently, some individuals and groups cried aloud that the much-talked-about 2019 general elections may not hold after all.
They claimed the lingering Boko Haram insurgency, herdsmen-farmers’ deadly clashes and other forms of insecurity, as well as hate-speeches by political gladiators across political parties, were dangers that would not provide the Professor Mahmoud Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) enabling environment to conduct peaceful elections. The concerned characters who, some individuals have mischievously described as alarmists and wailers that should be ignored, said perpetrators of these criminal acts do not want the elections to hold.
However, there are certain inconclusive matters that opposition political parties are using to heat up the already charged polity which, if the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration fails to find solution to quickly, could threaten the current fragile peace in Nigeria, ahead of 2019. From all indications, if by the end of the various ultimatums given by these aggrieved bodies, government does not meet their demands, efforts, including enormous funds being injected into preparations by INEC for the elections, may go down the drain. God forbid! This is why government should act quickly and decisively too, by engaging the various workers’ bodies in peaceful dialogues with a view to finding lasting solution to the protracted face-offs. Here lies the panacea for averting possible threat to conduct of 2019 elections.
The fact that Comrade Ayuba Wabba-led organised labour recently warned the federal government that they were speedily losing patience over the controversial N30, 000 new national minimum wage is a serious issue requiring government’s urgent attention to prevent another possible indefinite nationwide strike that could cripple economic activities, as well as human and vehicular movements. If the strike commences and stalemate over the new wage persists, the action can extend to election period. Already, organised labour had repeatedly promised to deal decisively with state governors that are not willing to pay the N30, 000 by ensuring they are voted out in 2019. Apart from the organised labour, public university lecturers under the umbrella of ASUU, led by Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, have been on indefinite strike for over one month following irreconcilable differences between them and federal government over working conditions and deplorable state of universities owned by federal and state governments. Also, for same reasons, academic staff of public polytechnics and Colleges of Education have given notices to government that they would, by December 12, 2018, embark on indefinite nationwide strikes; ASUU members have vowed they are not bothered by recent “no work, no pay” policy of the federal government and insisted they would not call off the strike until their demands are met.
Worse still, what evidently looks like the mother of all crises is fast looming following recent warning by the all-powerful oil marketers that if by December 14, 2018, federal government fails to settle the whopping sum of N801 billion reportedly owed them by way of fuel subsidy debts, they too would ask their staff to withdraw services. If this happens, fuel importation will be disrupted, thereby leading to scarcity of fuel for domestic consumption, as well as devastating fuel crises during forthcoming festive period ahead of 2019 general elections. Why do oil marketers and federal government seem to have delight in engaging in face-offs over mounting fuel subsidy debts virtually every year at the approach of Christmas and New Year festivities, thereby shutting down economic activities and inflicting untold hardships on millions of ordinary Nigerians living below subsistence level? Although these agitations preceded the present administration, but since government is a continuum, they should honour agreements signed with labour unions while labour union leaders should be reasonable in their demands in view of the country’s economic predicament.
However, it is paradoxical that while members of the political class, with impunity, fragrantly exhibit ostentatious lifestyles, the majority living in abject poverty are being asked to tighten their inelastic belts. What a life of inequalities, injustices and wickedness? This was why, recently, when they could not bear their sufferings anymore, National Assembly staff members had to embark on strike over unpaid salaries and allowances whereas federal lawmakers they serve receive humongous salaries and allowances monthly. All these man-made political and socio-economic maladies tormenting the country and the citizenry with government appearing helpless, are not only indications there is no enabling environment yet for 2019 elections but also that if care is not taken, the elections, if finally held, could lead to a lot of upset that would prove some predictions wrong.
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