Notable Nigerians lambast Buhari’s govt at book launch

Former Presidential aspirant on the platform of  Unity Party Of Nigeria – UPN, Michael Ovienmhada has expressed disappointment with the Buhari led administration over his inability to do something to show that it had a grand vision to move the country forward. Ovienmhada stated this during the presentation of his new book,  ‘New Dawn of Change: If I Were Buhari’ at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
Looking at the biting fuel crisis, shortage of power supply, Boko Haram and other issues which have no doubt, left many Nigerians wondering when the present administration will begin to fulfil its electoral promises of ensuring there’s change in the country, Ovienmhada pointed out that there is need for the government to show Nigerians that it has a grand vision that will move the country forward.
Describing the situation of the country as scary, he stated that “If the truth be told, the situation of the country is scary because what I was expecting with this government coming to power was a grand vision of where they wanted to take us to and then, this is the road map of where I want to take Nigerians to, that has been lacking since Buhari became president.
One would have expected that he would have put an economic team together having run for president three times, he had a plan so he would have put a team together that would help articulate this plan and sell it as a vision to the country so that the people would stop worrying that it appears nothing is coming. He needs to communicate to the people so that they would calm down.”
Ovienmhada who declared his intention to run for governorship in Edo State in 2016, also  described petroleum subsidy as responsible for corruption in the country. He maintained that “We have been living with a bad law for 40 years. The Petroleum Equalisation Fund Management Board Act of 1975 was from the very beginning a bad law and it has been at the core of our underdevelopment in this country. We have been losing money to a few privileged people by allocating our core resource to these few.
The law essentially states that petrol should be sold for the same price everywhere in the country. It is also at the root of all the corruption in the oil industry…subsidy cannot stand. For as long as we have petroleum subsidy, we will never be able to build critical infrastructure that would open business space and create jobs.”
Speaking in his capacity as chairman of the occasion, Pastor Itua Ighodalo who frowned at the way things are in the country, declared that  Nigeria and indeed, Africa were not designed to succeed adding that those that scrambled for Africa did so in a manner that they would come back and still be indirectly in control of its affairs.
Ighodalo described the book, ‘New Dawn of Change: If I Were Buhari’ as a timely material with the capability to provoke thoughts of leaders to be focused on what to do to transform Nigeria. He however expressed hope that the country will succeed given that the Buhari led administration has the best opportunity to transform Nigeria to be great.
Reviewing the book published by Noble House E-Solutions Limited, Director, Human Resources, Thisday Newspapers, Gbayode Somuyiwa described the author as one of those he recognises as patriotic Nigerians who is so passionate about Nigeria. He saluted the author for his book which he noted is “Written in simple language, easy to read, and an error free work that would aid in moving Nigeria forward.”
He said “The book is written in fluid prose, very attractive and with an interesting rider. ‘New Dawn of Change: If I Were Buhari’, shows every disturbing issue in the country. The objective of the book is to inspire leaders and motivate people to ask questions about their leaders. It offers a lot of  ideas for rapid change.”
Somuyiwa however expressed disappointment that the author left out the arts,culture and tourism sector which according to him, has contributed immensely to the growth of the economy and will yield more if the potentials are properly and adequately harnessed.
Photo: Former MD/CEO, Liberty Bank, Chief Lawson Omokhodion; Bowo Olateru-Olagbegi, the author, Michael Ovienmhada and Jones Usein during the book launch in Lagos