Exactly two years ago and precisely on 22nd May, 2014 I wrote an article titled “When You Become The President” which was exclusively published by Sahara Reporters. That article was targeted at addressing few of the many short falls of Jonathan administration. Little did I know that perhaps it was as much a prophetic piece as it was a warning to the immediate past President of Nigeria.
President Buhari had contested election into the highest office for three consecutive times before the 2015 general elections. On those three instances, General Buhari lost out and the third in particular which was held in 2011 was probably the most throbbing of all for the General as he avidly declared not to vie for any elective position again. I wouldn’t know what the General saw that made him feel he should have won in any of those three elections he lost out in specifically 2003, 2007 and 2011. Just like several millions of Nigerians, I never considered the capacity or character of GMB prior to the 2015 election. There were many reasons responsible for that but that’s certainly not my focus this time.
Call it magic, voodoo or any other thing, the supposed reformed democrat astonishingly but predictably won the 2015 presidential election. I deliberately chose the word “astonishingly” as it has embedded in it many connotations but again that’s not my objective.
The euphoria that preceded and followed that victory was similar to that of 1993 general election in which Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola often referred to as M.K.O Abiola won but annulled by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida also known as IBB. Even though I was a bit young in 1993, I remember vividly how the entire South West of Nigeria went into flames as soon as the annulment was announced. Nigerian youths protested across the length and breadth of Nigeria. There was nothing like sectionalism, tribalism or religiosity, it was the “Nigeria agenda”. That perhaps would have been the turning point for Nigeria but as it played out, it wasn’t. Very sadly, it took Nigeria another 22years to get a similar scenario play out in her political arena within which grievous damages have been done to our national life.
Forgive me if I seem to be hiding away the hub of this article but I presume you already know it’s meant to review President Buhari’s first year in office. The President came into office on the promise to tackle insecurity, fight corruption and revamp the economy. In a fair minded assessment of his first year in office, one would say the President has done creditably well in annihilating the most dreaded terror group in the country. Although there are other security threats in many parts of the nation, it’s a fact that Boko Haram no longer hold sway as it used to in the last administration. The country’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami in a recent statement describing the current state of security in the country is quoted as saying “the capacity of Boko Haram to hold territory has totally been decimated. Our focus now is on dealing with the remnants of their forces and re-focusing on the unfortunate humanitarian challenge caused by their activities”. The President had always mentioned that the priority of his government is security. “You must secure the country before you can manage it well”. We must indeed celebrate the Nigerian armed forces for the strides achieved in the last one year. Who could have thought that the same battered and ill-treated army could come back this strong? We must also appreciate our neighbors Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Benin in the Muti-National Joint Task Force effort at curbing the menace of Boko Haram in the region.
The President has also largely kept to his promise in his fight against corruption. This was first exemplified by his disposition to transparency and accountability in governance. President Buhari and his Vice both publicly declared their assets shortly after they assumed power. The President also did well to reduce superfluity in government administration by cutting down on the number of ministries and government departments. The robust implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) is another factor that has brought to fore the strength of will of this current President.
As the saying goes, “there is only one key distorting the dog’s teeth”. President Buhari’s promise to revamp the economy has not yielded much fruit in the last 365days. Putting this in context, a fair minded individual will judge the President’s economic policies as disruptive and woeful. That Nigerians are going through the most difficult season in the history of this country is no longer news. While we cannot unilaterally blame President Buhari for these economic ordeals, the average citizen will never understand the connection between the waste and corruption of previous governments and the trials the country and her people are faced with today. The typical narrative on the streets is nothing different from “is this the change they promised”? The economy as it stands currently is so tough and unbearable. The effect of a decline in global oil price and a consequent rise in its local price is telling so much on the purchasing power of the people. The President no doubt is fast losing support in this area and need to do something fast and drastic before it’s too late.
Nigerians are really tormented and it is even more pathetic that the very poor the President claims to be protecting or wanting to protect are the major victims of the prevailing ruthless economic climate. Although at this point, one could theoretically say the President has crossed the pass mark having scored above average using his campaign promises as the assessment instrument. It must however be noted that in reality, President Buhari is rated very low on the score sheet of not the 20% die hard supporters who will never see anything wrong with the President or the 20% haters segment who will always find a fault in any and every of his actions but the remaining 60% who are standing in between this two class of citizens and looking unto the President daily to witness the “change” he promised more than a year ago when he campaigned and wooed them for votes. What this 60% care about is just a turnaround in their businesses, homes and individual lives, nothing more.
When Buhari became President, I was full of energy and my hope in the Nigeria project came back to life. My perception about Nigeria changed and I thought that at least for once, this beautiful country can get on the right path to greatness. What however worries me about this government is neither the rising exchange rate nor the hike in fuel price. It is not even the increase in electricity tariff without more power to consume or the humongous salary arrears being owed civil servants across different states of the federation. What bothers me about this “change” is not the rising cost of food items in the market but the communication vacuum this government has created and continues to create. I know President Buhari will address the nation on Sunday 29th May on many issues his government is faced with and how he’s fared in the last one year and possibly the rough road ahead with navigation strategies. It goes beyond that. It’s not just about what you say to us on democracy day but how democratic you treat the people who put you in office. As I said in my commentary to the last administration, “when problems occur, leaders need the “visibility” that arises from remaining in touch with their people at all times”. One of my major issues with the last government was the communication gap it created and I addressed that in my article two years ago. I had thought things will be different with this new government but unfortunately it has remained the same if not worse. A spokes person for this administration recently told us to be grateful that Buhari is our President as if he never sought to be. He said Nigerians are not suffering inferring they are happy and satisfied with present situation. Such statements are uncouth. It is important for those who speak for this government to exhibit a certain level of humanity, humility as well as sensitivity.
While I wouldn’t say the President has failed at this point with at least two years of dedicated and committed governance left to make a difference as the last year may be for electioneering purpose, it is important for him to count his cost if he hasn’t done so already. I will end this piece by quoting a biblical verse that bears relationship with my advice to President Buhari. Luke 14:28-30 “For which of you, intending to build a house, does not sit down first to count the cost to see whether he has sufficient to finish it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation, and is unable to complete the building, all who see it will begin to mock and jeer him, saying, this man began to build, and was not able (worth enough) to finish it”. I hope and pray President Buhari is able to finish what he started.
Olusegun Elemo
Olusegun.elemo@gmail.com