WHERE WE ARE: DISSECTING BUHARI'S ADMINISTRATION

I had this post all mapped out last week, but I gathered that a successful writer must learn to be less sentimental ( saves one a lot of trouble and bias), I decided to let it bake a little at least to settle disturbed dust.

 Ehen, abeg, how una see last week, the week before last and even the one before that one? Una like am? Well, I didn’t and I have quite a lot to say about the very notorious fuel epidemic but before that, let me give you an overview of this post.

 I believe we all had our eyes and ears open sometime in 2015 when the now President, Muhammadu Buhari and his party members came heralding CHANGE! For the millions who believed, he promised a corrupt free nation, roads made with gold, constant power supply, an impeccable economy…ok, I think I have exaggerated but did he not promise free meals for primary school pupils, good roads? If I remember correctly, our now Presido promised change especially by wearing suit and sharing our very own high five with a little boy (I presumed that meant even the little children will enjoy his governance). One thing that still strikes me is he didn’t quite promise us frequent trips abroad. Somebody please remind me swiftly if he did as currently, all I hear and think about is the sound of my grumbling belle.

 This is 2016 and like the man above, many Nigerians feel that they have made another error in choosing Buhari. They have unanimously agreed that I should become their mouth piece and because I am another pissed off Nigerian, I have taken up their request with all pleasure. Now some of the reasons presented before my jury shall be listed below:

Fuel Scarcity

 We were promised change! We danced, screamed curses at the previous regime, we blamed Uncle Jona for the plagues that have befallen Nigeria since 1960 and opened our arms wide to receive the change that the BROOM promised. We definitely did not expect what Change brought. Oh yes we got change but our change spelt “bad to worse”. In fact, the present situation makes Jonathan’s administration seem so utopic.

 Nigerians spent hours in queues for fuel in January, March and even April (did it last so long with Jona?) and what do we get for our pains? Lai Mohammed apologizes to Nigerians, Kachukwu apologizes to Nigerians, this apologizes, that apologizes, everybody apologizes except the president (At least Jona was good at CONDEMNING).

The War against Corruption

 I was listening to Nigeria Info 99.3 on my way to work yesterday and like they knew the burden in my heart, one of the issues they discussed bothered on corruption and this administration’s fight against the infamous Nigerian STRONGHOLD. From their conversation, I came to the conclusion that this corruption fight seemed more like a personal vendetta. They claimed and I agree that most of the offenders are high ranking members of the past administration’s ruling party. Now have you noticed that no one, I mean no one has been convicted so far? One morning, we heard a certain High Chief was in prison, the next morning, we heard he was out and before we managed to rinse our mouths, letters of apology were broadcasted and replayed even more than paid ads. We also heard the said Chief made a quick good will visit to Aso Rock to see how the President was doing but of course behind camera ( don’t quote me oh). Now I am not against the fight against corruption oh, I only wish that the wool be pulled from our eyes and let the persecutions sorry, I mean to say prosecutions be made as transparent as possible. Let somebody asides Abacha return stolen money! In addition, can some of the very notorious APC thieves, sorry again, chieftains be indicted as well or have they suddenly become above the law?

Up NEPA!

 When I heard that Fashola was made minister for power, I rejoiced! I hoped like many like-mind Nigerians that Fashola would handle the power sector with the same ready to work attitude which he used to clear up Agege, Oshodi and Mushin. But then again, Change seems to have taken place as all I see is new headlines and new pictures of well furnished, properly lit offices but not enough power to charge my batteries and an increased tariff. Now that we do not have light (allow me say it the Nigerian way), or fuel to power on our generators, how on earth do we see you people plead with us to have more patience. Mind you we have been waiting since 1960!

Buy Nigerian Everything

 I have no problem with that as I don’t even have a choice. On a second thought, I need someone to satisfy my curious soul; does our president eat Abakiliki rice or any of its variants? Again since we are on the patronize Nigeria matter, can someone please tell me if any of Buhari’s children are in Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ibadan or the University of Nigeria, Nsukka? The other time, Buhari went to the United States for a supposed vacation but again, have our beautiful resorts lost the ability to relax nerves? Just asking oh before you all make me buy another Aba shoe that’d earn me seventy-seven years of yabbery. Please let us not even talk about how our budget disappeared and reappeared  bringing with it many controversies like who removed rail way project!Na wa o. 

  

 With the above, it is clear that the current administration has not achieved even seventy-five percent of its agenda. Now I stand by the need to support our leaders so this post is not about singing the song of doom but about letting you all know that the problem of Nigeria can no longer be solved by mere dress up and beautiful vocabulary.

 Now Buhari's praise singers have two favorite sentences “Buhari promised change but he is not a magician as change is a gradual process "and “Jonathan’s administration is the catalyst of all our problems”. Well I can agree with he not being a magician but is it not about time we had an honest politician? One who would say the truth especially during his campaigns? Is it acceptable or now a norm that politicians must lie during campaigns? I mean, Buhari has failed to fulfill even one third of the promises he made during campaign. Did he not promise so why can’t he deliver?

 

 Finally, are we not tired of everyone pulling the noose that has been tied around Jonathan’s neck ( Jonathan has become the archetypal scape goat whose sole purpose is to die for the sins of others)? This is definitely not Buhari’s first time in power so we expected more expertise and definitely not the baby steps of an amateur that has become the constant in this administration.You might call this slow and steady but I call it Snail and tortoise moves. For someone with an experienced profile, we expected that things should have been put in place by now. To our startling dismay, the presidency is more preoccupied with making international ties (I believe Baba is currently in China), and of course blaming the previous regime for its many failures. Anyone who knows his onions knows that a successful man does not waste his time blaming everybody but himself, rather, he directs his misjudgments inward. If he must blame previous regimes, then he should start with Obasanjo and his predecessors( oh I hear that Obasanjo described him as his Wife or described seeing him as seeing his wife behind closed doors. Biko choose one) which includes his humble self...see the irony?

 Now I don’t mean to be critical of Buhari’s administration but I don’t know how you want to explain to your hungry child that even the size of gala has reduced. When we voted for change, we didn’t expect magic but we sure didn’t expect the size of commodities to reduce and their price increase, we never expected to be plagued by darkness. Nigeria’s situation reminds me of the seven years of harvest and the seven years of lack in Egypt during the time of Joseph aka Jona. The years of harvest ---, the years of lack---, fill in the gap!



Photo Credit: Instablog