President Buhari: How Not To End -By Peter Ojelabi

My attention was drawn to an article dated May 27, 2007, by Tunji Bello of one Nigeria national newspaper tittle “Obasanjo: His fading statesmanship” In the article he highlighted the flaw of the then president Olusegun Obasanjo as follow:

Inflation in the price of goods, Rising of dollar, Mis used of federal power.

The article however reminds of a movie tittle “Days of destiny” in which two brothers have to gone back to the past to correct the mistakes of their Father,

The scene that captivated my attention was where Toyin Ajewole a Cab driver was talking to those guy about vision 2020 and the conversation goes thus:

Toyin: as you guy’s know that we don dey demography or na demo……

The guy’s: democracy

Toyin: yea that is what dey call it, as in our president don promise sey na enjoyment we go dey be as he go make one naira to a dollar, ko da as we dey like dis by 2020 Nigeria go no need any visa to enter American Cos our country go don better pass their own….and if OBJ no do am another person go do am…

The guy’s: ohh! Like Jonathan, don’t worry just wait for Buhari!

Then I began to soliloquizes as to what may have gone wrong, does our leaders then really have vision for 2020? If yes what was their plan then to make it reality?

I’m very sure Tunji Bello was mad about OBJ government and that was what prompted him to write such an inspiring article about him.

Now, what will be the hope of Tunji Bello to see Nigeria in this situation?. We’ve move from bad to worse, failure to colossal failure, We are now living as a refugees in our own country without any external war. Just come to think of the situation of Nigeria rural Community, can Tunji Bello stay mute at this particular situation?

Though, the failures of Buhari administration is not limited to the president himself, but the calibre of people that are working with him who are allergic to criticism. Prior to his election in 2015, Buhari and his APC were the front and first critics of all Goodluck Jonathan policies, it is a pity that the administration did worse than what they criticised the then administration for.

The removal of petrol subsidy which they called scam, increased in Value Added Tax(VAT), Academic industrial action, Increased of Electricity Tariff, Poor Economic Policy, lopsided in appointment, Violation of human right. Now according to report a dollar is over 600 to a naira, insecurity is on the rise, inflation, fuel scarcity, etc is all what we can boast of about this regime.

Also, we should not but commend the effort of the President on infrastructure development, like Lagos Ibadan express road, Abuja – Kaduna train project, second Niger bridge, Afam fast power project, Reconstruction of Apapa Tin can, to mention but few but what is the benefit of this when he fails in his primary responsibility which is protecting life and property of the citizen.

It is now glaring in our face that, Jonathan was regarded as the bull in China’s shop; but the bull so far has been replaced by a bullock, it is now God that can safe the China’s shop.

However, with the little time remain for him to end his administration, the President can still paint his garment white, hence, leaving a good legacy by conducting a free and fair election and allow the people’s will to prevail. He should provide a plain ground for all contestants to be able to test their political will and see their acceptability among the electorate.

More so, the President should pressurize the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to be neutral in conducting 2023 general election; the commission should ensure their workers are not engage in partisan politics. He should empowered and mobilise EFCC, to curb vote buying in all polling unit across the federation.

It will be a grave mistake if president Buhari try to intervene in choosing his successor. Because, The fuss that will generate by the battle of president Buhari successor may have far reaching implications on the peace, stability, progress and development of our dear nation; which are the needs of an average Nigeria before, during, or after election.

Peter Ojelabi writes from Ogbomoso
Pojelabi@gmail.com