BUHARI IS NOT GETTING IT RIGHT!
Written by LUCAS ANUFORO
Email: peter.lemachi@yahoo.com
“He who has great power should use it lightly.”... Seneca
If one should reflect critically into spheres of events, since Buhari took over power in May 2015 eventually it could be said that he has not done well in his 15 months Presidency. The much-anticipated change Nigerians clamoured for remains unattainable.
Buhari was looked up to be the Nigeria’s Moa Tse-Tung who was expected to revolutionise the country’s decayed system and make it a corrupt free society that would in due course bring a permanent change in the economic and political landscape of the country instead, his administration indulge in political witch-hunting and poor economic planning. This reminds me of what Friedrick Nietzsche said “whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” “It is true that nobody is above the law but power can make somebody invisible.”- Toba Beta.
At the commencement of Buhari’s anti-graft war, many believe that the campaign would have had a holistic approach where both the past and present political office holders, including that of the past military heads of state will be probed. Sadly, the exercise failed to meet its objectives due its lopsidedness and other constrain attached to it. The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has been selective in executing their job. Most PDP members who served under the last administration and defected to APC were not being hunted by the commission for the reason that they’ve join the ruling party perhaps so as to escape penal servitude.
The Vanguard interview of Monday the 26 of June 2016 with Mr. Babachir Lawal the Secretary to the Government of the Federation when asked, by the newspaper why the administration is not probing APC members he said “All Progressive Congress, APC-led Federal Government is not focused on probing members of the party” he did not further convince the public why APC-led government should decide not probe its members. In the civilised democracy, leaders are obligated for accountability both in information and the administrative aspect of governance. The suspense created by Mr Babachir Lawal was a testament on public reservation and suspicion concerning the genuineness of the whole exercise.
However, the last general election saw APC as a party of hope through influence and the involvement of Buhari in running for Presidency. This attracted all sundries to cast their votes for a man they see as change. The recent poll shows that his rating at both national and internationally has dwindled compared to the time he was first inaugurated as president because he failed to reach out both aisles of the political divides.
In one of my piece published last year during Buhari’s inauguration, it expressed much concern on the calibre of individuals that will form his cabinet. Precisely, the piece voiced opinion that the President should distance himself from those identified as ‘dirty vessels’. Today his choice of cabinet is a trajectory of his leadership thus compromising his mission objectives. His relationship with some never-do-well past leaders who frequent Aso Rock on a daily basis is also a consequence. These were men who ruined the economy of the nation and have nothing more to offer instead; they aggravate issues and cause more chaos. Thus doesn’t speak well of the President. One of the dividends of democracy is good governance that is, when there are good leaders who will champion the cause. No matter how prudent a leader is in as much as there are bad advisers he is bound to fail.
Presently, the nation’s currency has fallen below its worst state since 20 years and the government seems to be confused on how to run the economy. Some experts have criticised his type of economic policy to be obsolescent. Today corruption still remains much prevalent among the top government officials.
The current persistence of militant incursion on oil pipelines in the oil-rich Niger Delta was as a result of a poor approach by the present government towards the region. The successive administrations were able to dialogue with some local leaders through means of providing some basic acquisition training skills and engaging their qualified graduates in the oil sector which made them felt integrated into the economy. But the Buhari’s administration has bluntly refused with such pernickety idea instead; he was subversive in his approach.
The country has become more polarised and divisive ever since he came into power due to his inability to carry all ethnics along. The Nimbo Uzo Uwani Enugu massacre by Fulani herdsmen which Vanguard newspaper of 26th of April 2016 captioned as “Bloodbath in Enugu” recorded not less than the massacre of 40 defenceless men, women and children. Unfortunately, no group or individuals have been held responsible for such heinous crime.
The Fulani unchecked prerogative and invincibility has now extended from the unlimited encroachment of lands of the desert north to the green vegetation of the south. Their uninformed slave masters failed to lecture them about the consequences of land encroachment as such they see every piece of land as a patrimony to graze their herds of cattle. They were the only group in the country legitimised to possess a firearm and same time can use it on innocent individuals at their own discretion. This is repugnant to the country’s constitution as well as poses threat to national security.
Once again the Nimbo Uzo Uwani massacre is a reminder to the Igbos on how weaker and vulnerable the tribe has become since after the Nigeria/Biafra civil war ended in 1970. The Igbo political leaders have entangled themselves with all sorts of discreditable actions which made it difficult for them to challenge any insult melted on the tribe. Since the attack, none of the five Eastern governors has ever lauded his voice on the matter or make a clear statement rather it has been a cover-up with many invidious utterances from the so-called leaders. However the proposal of a land provision in all 36 states of the country for the Fulani herdsmen to graze their cattle gained the support of some of the South Eastern governors as a national issue. What an injustice and act of cowardice from these leaders!
The scripture made it clear in the book of Exodus 22:5 that “If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution from the best of their own field or vineyard.” This is an undiluted word of God! This implies that one cannot rob Peter to pay Paul. Also the book of Proverb 13: 22 say “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.” Posterity will never forgive any Igbo leader who gives away the inheritance of the people. That’s the cause the state of Israel and the Palestine are still fighting till present day.
The country’s failure to practise true federalism created a dwindling wealth in all facet of the economy thus making the constituents states to be perpetually underdeveloped. Each state should be self-autonomy and manage its commonwealth. This will foster a healthy developmental competition within the constituent states. The division of power between member unit and centre may vary, typically, the centre has powers regarding defence and foreign policy, but the constituent states may also have international roles. The decision-making bodies of member states may also participate in the central decision making. This will restrain and reduce the central unit excess power over the constituent states.
The resources control becomes an impending issue after series of National Conference which millions of dollars were spent for the ‘jamboree.’ Unfortunately, the last conference which was held under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was not implemented due lots of unnecessary bureaucracy attach to it. In an interview with the Secretary to Government of the Federation Mr. Babachir Lawal by Vanguard newspaper of 27th June 2016 he said “If you remember, it was reported that almost everybody in the committee of National Conference got N7 million and we consider it essentially as job for the boys. They probably produced a document that is good and commendable but I mean, this government is too busy with very more vital areas of governance and we are not intending to spend our time reading reports.” This means that Mr. Babachir’s opprobrious statement speaks volume of the present government intention not to honour the last National Conference reports. It will be abysmal if Buhari’s administration fails to fulfil the promise he made to Nigerians on his swearing in day, to uphold the unity of the nation. He should also live up to his priceless mantra “I belong to everybody, but I belong to nobody.”
It is horrendous that no government after the first republic has yet made huge impact or self- sacrifice on the country’s economic development instead; the wealth of the nation turns them to be overnight Tsars. It becomes a tradition that every retired President in Nigeria builds himself a hilltop mansion unlike in the United States and other western countries where an outgoing leader will only have his house refurbished by the government. Nigerian leaders preferred to dwell on hedonism, picayune and ephemeral things than to leave a legacy that will endure for perpetual. The stealing of the country’s commonwealth by those that were entrusted with leadership has left the state of a broken economy. Presently, the large population of the country are in pain as a result of hardship from the moribund economy. Regrettably, with the current economic policy, the situation is far from over.
This is a time the country needs a seasoned leader like that of the current Greece Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras who’s leading his country out from the economic turmoil. Nigeria needs a leader who can make things happen, a leader with unbiased charisma, a leader who can cross beyond all ethnic divides, a leader who's not drenched with religious involvement and a leader who sees all ethnic as one Nigeria. President Buhari can still bring change to Nigeria if he focuses on his set objectives. Now is the time!
Lucas Anuforo is a Freelance Journalist.
Twitter: @anuforo
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