State Of The Nation: Buhari Factor -By Fatai Abiodun

Fatai Abiodun

One of the best definitions of democracy is the one tendered by former US President Abraham Lincoln who defines democracy as government of people by the people and for the people. From this simple definition we can say democracy is simply about people. Everything that needs to be done should be in tandem with the wish of the people. Any policy that felt short of the yearning of the people is totally not acceptable in any democratic settings.

Nigeria, as most African populous nation got independence 1960, and embraced democracy in 1999, we celebrated 17 yrs of un-interrupted democracy setting with little or something to show. Some still argued that we are still on a progressing trend while many opined that nothing good to show for it.

2015, President Buhari administration came with the atmosphere of change, change have different meaning to many people. To some, it’s an avenue to move from bad to better, indiscipline to discipline, while to some to change political power. For the past 1 yrs of his administration, someone can say we don’t know where we are going.

Among the indisputable problems facing our dear country before the rescue by President Buhari was the issue of insurgency, as at that time someone can feel the blood of the innocent souls on the pages of newspaper then during the administration of Jonathan. The masses do not have any option than seeking for change at least to protect the remaining souls. No one knows who could be the next target as nowhere seems to be safe. Today, we have seen change in that direction. Boko haram has been truly decimated and their wings have been destroyed now begging for dialogue.

During the run-up to the 2015 general election, PDP was busy campaigning using a buoyant economy as a first aid market point in winning the heart of the masses, and then Nigeria was declared the best economy in Africa. Many people does not see anything good from that direction they opined that it is only when there is life someone can enjoy buoyant economy, the first primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property. What matters to us then was to eradicate boko haram from attacking the populace.

Today, our country is not left behind in the negative effect of reduction in oil price which has created many vacuums for the government to meet up with their responsibilities. Now for the first time in our dear country we are now in affirmative recession period. Many still wonder about the meaning of recession, from the analysis and feasibility studies carried out recession simply means “a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales.”
Every day is born with new opportunities; any untapped ones would become challenges. The essence of having a leader is to have someone who will be managing our opportunities and challenges. If there is no challenge or obstacle then there would be no need for the role of a leader.

Leader have so many definition, but the utmost one I know is that a leader knows the way, show the way and goes the way. If there is anyone that needs to be proactive is the leader. The more leaders give excuses the more things get deteriorating. Today, in summary of the problems facing our dear country is a leadership problem.

Take for instance, the governor of Kaduna state El-Rufai met a gory tale of administration, he never complain for once or blaming the failure of the former ruler of the state, he knows why he was elected not to be receiving visitor but to work in correcting all the wrongs and to set the state toward the path of destiny and recovery. Without any gainsaying, Elrufai is getting it right same like his counterpart in cross rivers state.

Our problems in Nigeria are man’s made not God’s made. So it required a human solution. We can only pray God to give us a leader who will do the just, and you can only do just if you know what just is all about.

Prior to the 2015 general election, President Buhari was chosen and loved by all because the utmost and paramount problem we are facing then was a security issue. We never want anybody than him, because he knows the music and ringing tone of war. We are too optimistic that with his expertise and knowledge in handling security issue, boko haram would be no more. Even someone like me opined that if you give Jonathan administration 40 years he won’t be able to curtail the security nemesis because he knows nothing about security issues. He has never been a common vigilante before. A rigid problem requires a rigid solution.

Presently we are battling with many challenges but the cornerstone of it now centres on economy. The rate of un-employment has skyrocketed. Before they used to say we are sitting on the gum powder, but now we have felt from the gum powder, now running for safety. The situation of the country is totally in the state of anomie. No company is advertising vacancy anymore, yet corps member are being commission in thousand to the empty labour market but rather staffs are being lay-off on hour basis. When will the rescuer come?

It seems this situation would last longer than we expected; this precarious situation has prompted the upper and lower chamber of the house to invite the president to brief the house on joint session. What would you expect from the presidency who knows nothing about economy? The senate has recommended the sacking of the Central Bank of Nigeria for his failure to salvage the country economy but presidency seems to know better than them by not acting.

What else did you expect him to say than to blame the past leaders for their failure for saving for the raining day? We knew things are bad that was why we elected you to do the needful; we gave you everything you would need to succeed. In terms of housing, domestic, security and everything both material and non-material at your disposal just to give us a better life.

Many recommendations have been tendered directly and indirectly for presidency to apply but it seems they are not feeling the explanations in a more practical terms. As a sincere citizen if what is happening is not a concern then you are among those robbing the truth. Democracy is simply about people nothing less nothing more.

When your car is faulty the only person that comes to your mind is a good mechanic. No matter the situation, seeing a good mechanic relaxed your hope that the problem is half solved. You won’t be satisfied with anyone except mechanic. You will also be full of joy if that mechanic major on that brand of the car. If he say in the next 2 months your car would be okay, sincerely you will be relaxed. But in a situation where the person is not a mechanic even if he says tomorrow your mind won’t be at rest. With the caliber of those managing our economy it seems this is the best solution they could proffered.

President Buhari could still be referred to as an accidental president because since he left office at military head of state 1985 he never attended any education gathering both home and abroad, in fact he never publish or written any paper on governance. We can say is unfortunate for some who still believes he could still be president. If God grant his wish to become president at old age of above 70 years, he should rule this country without fear or favor.

We are not God but we may not see them in the next 20 years. The atrocities of the Niger Delta avengers also contributes to the decline in revenue, the president approach of solving this problem is totally unknown. When he was in US he assured the international community to dialogue but his body language does not in any way goes in that direction. No matter what the child does his/her father must still come to the table to iron out all comic issues to enjoy lasting happiness.

It is only an un-educated fellow that would appoint a journalist as substantive education minister, how could you defend someone that studied linguistic as an agriculture minister, a lawyer as an Information Communication Technology minister and grade Two teacher as coordinating economy minister, also a lawyer as budget and planning, and also merging three ministerial portfolios to one person. Haba, him na super-man! Then you will conclude that our president is not educated. The most performing ministers are the one who managed the portfolio that matches with their profession. The performance of these ministers is an attestation that the executive robbed the senate that screened and confirmed their nomination for the ministerial position. Verily, this was how corruption started. How would you expect someone that study peace and conflict to man the ministry of solid mineral what is majorly the job of geologist and you are expecting a miraculous “Change” my people you will wait tired.

All these were factors mitigating and contributing to the recession we find ourselves. They were only using our dear country for siwes practical. Buhari have a good intention but lack knowledge on how to truly actualize it and also those driving his policy lack the ingredient to succeed.

The only way out is to go back to the drawing board and appoint core master in the areas of the ministry. God will never do partial. And you are what you know. With these caliber of ministers I can assured you that this is how it would continue.

Every change is not an improvement but every improvement is a change.

Written by
Fatai Abiodun
ICT guru and Public Affairs Analyst