Obaze's public policy book Prime Witness rises above the fray

All is set for the Abuja presentation of a new public policy book on President Muhammadu Buhari's first year in office. Titled, "Prime Witness: Change And Policy Challenges In Buhari’s Nigeria", the public policy evaluation book is scheduled for presentation at the Shehu Musa Yar'adua Centre, Abuja on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Prime Witness, which is published by Safari Books Ltd. is authored by a public policy expert, Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, the MD/CEO of Selonnes Consult Ltd. who coincidentally, was the candidate of People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2017 governorship election in Anambra state. 

The 448-paged book chronicles and offers recommendations to various public policy challenges in the Buhari-led Nigeria.  

According to Obaze, a former United Nations official, and one time Secretary to Anambra State Government, the book “is essentially a product of my observations, my exchanges with my various interlocutors in and out of government, and Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike, during the first year of the Buhari administration.”

In the foreword, Amb. Ejeviome Otobo, a Non-Resident Senior Expert in Peacebuilding and Global Economic Policy at the Global Governance Institute, Brussels, states that the book “turns critically on three questions: Has the Buhari administration delivered on what it promised during the electoral campaign? Has President Buhari demonstrated the qualities of responsive and responsible leadership? And has he displayed the necessary statesmanship in the governance of national affairs?”

The book addresses an array of topical policy issues and challenges. It acknowledges areas of discernible progress, gives credits for accomplishments, but also underline fault lines and failings. 

On a key national and still trending issue, Obaze reiterated the call for restructuring, saying that “every ethnic jigsaw component of Nigeria feels sufficiently aggrieved, marginalized and therefore, seeks equity via restructuring.” 

Obaze goes on to warn that “Nigeria is at risk unless it finds the courage to restructure." Alternatively, he opined that, “A default restructuring, will happen, certainly not by choice, but definitely like an uncontrolled experiment with attendant risks and indefinite outcome.”

Those able to secure and peruse a copy of the book, speak to the book's timeliness and it's rising above the political fray. One reader considered it a "lucid, engaging and compelling volume."

As Prof. B.A.C. Obiefuna of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka's Department of Religion and Society/Human Relations, an early reviewer, couched it, "Let us pick it; read it; digest it and use the knowledge from it to insist on groupthink formulation and implementation of workable policies to address the challenging realities in our dear country Nigeria." 

The book's initial presentation took place at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Lagos on May 2, 2018. The event was chaired by Chief Chris Ezeh and was attended by several eminent Nigerians.