The New Low In Leadership Integrity

Jeff Okoroafor

September 5th 2015, will mark 100th day of the Buhari-led All Progressive Congress government which took office on May 29th after the new party became the first in the democratic history of Nigeria to unseat an incumbent government, with a huge support from the entire Nigerian people. Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity said in his article titled “Understanding Buhari in 100 Days”, which was published on several online platforms and can be assessed here, said “there is a certain document tagged “100 things Buhari will do in 100 days”, and another “my covenant with Nigerians.” Both pamphlets bore the authorized party logo but as the Director of Media and Communications in that campaign, I did not fund or authorize any of those. I can equally bet my last kobo that candidate Buhari did not see or authorize those publications.” Now this is coming just a couple of days to the 100 days of President Buhari in office, which is very strange and insulting to say the least.

At times its very hard to concentrate when something really strong occupies your mind. Garba Shehu’s publication insults Nigerians sensibility and reduce us to nothingness. If all what the SSA to Buhari on Media and Publicity said in that piece is true, what then are the promises that Buhari himself made to the Nigerian people during his campaign, what were his marketed products aside his philosophies? The first item on the document that the All Progressive Congress and President Buhari used as a marketing tool to the Nigerian people, says that Buhari will DECLARE his assets, and also encourage or compel his subordinates to do the same. He complied with this item when he and his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, made the first move. So the question is, is Buhari lying to Nigerians through his Media and Publicity Assistant with that piece, or both Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu are simply too incompetent to handle that portfolio? The latter is my best bet.

During the dynamically interesting 2015 general election in Nigeria, at the Chatham House, Buhari categorically told the world, on the 27th of February 2015, in responds to a question posed, that the content of that document is fraudulent, deceiving and misleading. Given the trueness of this revelation as shown in various video clips online, it goes on to say that President Buhari’s media aides are not doing a good job at all. They have continuously fail to own the narrative and control the Media space, and this is huge disappointment.

A little while ago, on air, Mr Femi Adesina asked Nigerians to go to Lia Mohammed and collect their monthly promised N5000.00. This for me is the highest point of recklessness and ethical decadence as a Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. It shames me to keep having people with limited knowledge in administration, handle such positions. These individuals are supposed to be the public face and mouthpiece of President Buhari to the Nigerian people, but they both are almost taking the unwise steps the likes of Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe took that messed up Jonathan and his administration. They don’t research, they don’t review and they also don’t think their statement through before making them.

The All Progressive Congress too are not doing a good job and it bothers me to ask, did they know that they are now the ruling party in Nigeria? How can the leadership of this party keep making cheap mistakes? It was only by God’s grace they were able to manage the Bukola Saraki saga. Time for campaign has gone, Nigerians want to see a political party with doable plans and striding implementations. It will be a huge shame if by 2019 the Peoples Democratic Party snatches leadership from them.

My last word to both the political party and the spokesmen of President Buhari is simple, get your acts together, learn how to dance to the drum and give Nigerians an unforgettable stage spectacle.

God bless Nigeria