It’s Been Five Years, Where Is The “Change” Baba Promised? -By Reginald Tobin

It’s been five years since President Muhammadu Buhari, assumed office as Commander in chief of the federal republic of Nigeria. But, before his emergence as President, he had carried out several political campaigns where he made numerous and sweet promises to Nigerians, the people he had always wanted to serve. recall that Buhari had been in the Presidential race since 2003, but never succeeded until 2015, when he was finally given the opportunity to helm the affairs of Nigeria as a democratically elected president.

Buhari during his campaigns in 2015, sweet tongued innocent Nigerians to believe that he had the ultimate solution to the challenges that rocked the country, this made some Nigerians believe that he was the “messiah” who will turn things around for good and bring Nigeria out of shackles. One can also say Nigerians fell for him at that time considering the challenges the country faced which the past administration was finding very difficult to handle. As a retired General and former head of state, they felt his coming will put a stop to all these.

Buhari who had promised “change” also rolled out three major points of agenda which his administration will focus on. These were to be in the areas of Security, Economy and Corruption. The President had promised to tighten security in the country, grow the economy of Nigeria and clean corruption off the system. All these he promised before assuming office as President.

On 29 May 2015, the awaited time came and the so much believed President was sworn in. Since then, Nigerians or those who voted for him have been quite optimistic about his leadership. The people waited on the President who had promised to equal the Naira to dollar, they expected to buy a litre of fuel for N45, they awaited the economy which they felt was in a bad state to do better, Nigerians believed it was a time when they will never here of the Boko Haram insurgents anymore, they felt the security of the country would be better managed under Buhari. Among other things, they expected zero tolerance for corruption.

However, months have passed, years have passed, but things have worsened instead of getting better as expected. The people are worried as this is not what the man they even referred to as “Mr Integrity” promised. As a man of integrity which he claimed to be, the people expected him to keep to his words, after all, that’s what men of integrity are known for. But, in the case of President Buhari, this has not been so. However, To ease the pressure put upon him by the people, instead of the president to look for solutions to the challenges confronting his government, he has rather ventured into the business of blame. President Buhari found it better to blame his predecessors for the failure of his administration, according to him, the country had been damaged for 16years before he took over and so, he could not fix it within the twinkle of an eye. But Buhari did not tell Nigerians that he could not fix what has been damaged for sixteen years within four years when he needed their votes. Instead, he gave them his word, so why the excuses?

He continued on this part as the economy of Nigeria weakened by the day, the naira which he promised would be equal to dollar, became weaker as days past. Price of essential commodities where on the rise, as if that is not enough, the situation of insecurity worsened as corruption still remains a norm in the system.

I thought Baba promised “change”, is this the change? the people are asking. During the past administration which Buhari and his political associates criticized, the economy of the country was doing far better than it is today. As at today, Price of essential commodities have doubled, the people are complaining, yet, Buhari has not found any solution to these problems. The country under Buhari has become the opposite of the promises he made to Nigerians, But Baba is still blaming others.

The security challenges in Nigeria has entered into a new gear, from Boko Haram which is still a concern came Fulani Herdsmen who have been killing innocent Nigerians while grazing on their farmlands.

As usual, Nigerians cried to the President to do something, but Buhari did not say a word about the issue of Fulani herdsmen and farmers, instead, he told the people to pray to God over something he should handle as President. He even told the people to give up their lands to avoid been killed, Haba! What kind of a President would say that.

Bandits have taken over the northern part of Nigeria, the people are been killed daily, but Buhari is not bothered. In fact, his administration has become more compassionate for Cows than humans.

The corruption he promised to fight if he becomes President is still thriving under his nose, while he watches. Even when he’s fighting corruption, he’s always lopsided. He protects the thieves in his house whilst he drags others for public prosecution, is that how to fight corruption? When will Buhari learn to accept responsibility and act like the president he said he will be if elected, why has the president refused to take blame for his failure to govern Nigeria as he promised? Nigerians who voted President Buhari did so because they believed he will bring solution to the problem and not to blame others for the problem.

Buhari successfully completed a first tenure without fulfilling the major promises he made to Nigerians and was still re-elected for another four years. This is the first year of Buhari’s second tenure and nothing has changed for the better, instead things are becoming worst.

Buhari should not forget that he promised to bring “change” and not to blame. Well, the continuous blame game being played by the president will leave one with no option but to conclude that the president certainly has no idea of growing the economy, neither does he have an idea of fighting corruption or curbing insecurity.

Nigerians are fast becoming tired of the Muhammadu Bauhari’s administration and the only way for him to please Nigerians is to bring the change he promised or take the country back to the manageable state it used to be.

The president still has three more years to do this or else, his administration may be recorded as the worst in the history of democracy in Nigeria.

Tobin writes from Port Harcourt via Reginaldtobin2@gmail.com