Democracy & Governance
Early Signs Of Buhari’s 2nd Term And The Task Ahead Of The Nigerian People -By Bright Ogundare
The second tenure of president Muhammadu Buhari kicked off amidst fanfare on May 29 however, barely 2 weeks into the tenure, the initial fanfare has proven to be a smokescreen for the turbulence ahead. This is no thanks to several signs that have brought scrutiny to what really is in store for the Nigerian people in the next 4 years.
After the president’s inauguration, Nigerians were eagerly waiting for the inauguration speech of the president where the president was expected to elucidate his plans for the Nigerian people. Unfortunately, the presidency dropped a bombshell, the president would not be giving a speech as it has been postponed to June 12. While the sycophants of the presidency in the media were quick to applaud this action, however, for a president that rarely addressed the nation in his first term, this excuse is untenable. The fact that the president could not even attend the inauguration dinner even makes the situation baffling. However, the fact remains that Nigeria has myriad of issues of which the presidency is expected to have addressed, wasn’t it right for the president to have at least dignified Nigerians with a speech on these issues. Leaders all over the world are looking for every opportunity to address their citizens and engage them, the British Prime Minister every Thursday is always on the hot seat at the PMQ, why then would a man whom we have just entrusted with the next 4 years of our lives decide not to address us when we have burning issues.
Since the president’s victory at the election, it seems the security situation in the country has gone from bad to worse. The rampaging herdsmen have become an organized kidnapping for ransom institution. The Southwestern part of the country which was hitherto untouched by the security crisis has now been caught up in the storm. Sadly, the presidency has not yet come out with a blueprint on tackling the crisis but has continued to treat the Myetti Allah which claims to speak for the herdsmen with kid gloves. This has, in turn, led to the criminalization of a whole ethnic group, Fulanis who had lived peacefully in their host community are now viewed with disdain as they are now guilty by association for a crime most of them are innocent of. This might even further degenerate into a war of attrition and vengeance as frustrated indigenes might start taking revenge on innocent Fulanis in their domain and the president would do himself and the country a huge favor by arresting this crisis before it spirals into war.
The presidency has also shown its ruthlessness in dealing with dissenting opinions. The crackdown and closure of AIT and Ray Power FM is a Testimony. Isn’t it comic that the NBC which claims to be an unbiased regulator but led by a card-carrying member of the ruling party closes down a media house for being biased towards opposition? The government
Having considered the above, anyone expecting the next 4 years to be a bed of roses for Nigerians is only daydreaming. The next 4 years would be tough and we must be ready to hold the government accountable, they would intend to cow us into silence but we must continue to speak up. Our parliamentarians would once again support anti-people policies of the presidency and we must not be afraid to trigger the recall provision. We have a task to stop the country from degenerating into anarchy and barbarism and our only option is to hold the president responsible.
Bright Ogundare is a social commentator and he can be contacted via brightogundare@gmail.com
