THE Nigerian growth story has been a rather topsy-turvy one. During the early years of independence, growth was moderately positive, averaging over five percent annually. The lowest rates were during the crisis years 1966-70 when growth went as low as -17 percent. The country emerged after the civil war with impressive growth results, reaching a peak of almost 30 percent in 1970.  From the 1980s to the 1990s – the dark years of military tyranny – growth was a moderate annual average of 3.5 percent, undulating between negative and positive figures during that decade.

MY gentle readers, let no-one deceive you. The stakes we face today are of a destiny-changing order.  The coming elections will decide whether our country will survive  or will be thrown to the dogs. Sunday November  18, was announced by INEC as the date for the official commencement of the national electioneering campaigns. We are back to the colourful and exciting era of the soapbox and the hustings.  It is a race that will not be for the fainthearted.

MANY of our chattering classes have been going on as if the presidential elections are all about the big gladiators. Nobody is talking about the issues that really matter to most Nigerians. I humbly submit that such people are profoundly in error. And it is too premature to conclude that the whole thing is a contest between two recycled dinosaurs.

BETWEEN July and this month President Muhammadu issued two decrees aimed at further curbing corruption, money laundering and tax evasion: the first, Executive Order 6, and the other, Executive Order 008. An executive order is a decree issued by the executive without necessarily seeking approval of parliament or the judicature. Most constitutions do empower the executive to take all such measures as would conduce to sound government and public administration in the interest of the overall common good. Donald Trump probably set a world record by the number of executive orders that he dished out during his first week in power. The current incumbent of the high magistracy of the American republic has issued no less than 42 Executive Orders in his first year alone. 

THE World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings were recently concluded in the paradisiacal island of Bali in Indonesia. It was attended by more than 3,000 delegates, among them finance ministers, central bank governors, high civil servants, international officials and the lot.  IMF Managing Director Christina Lagarde likened it to a successful wedding. Weddings take a lot of preparation; and then the grand occasion arrives. Then the merriment follows and all guests eventually depart, taking with them fond memories of everything that transpired.