It is no longer in doubt that our former Army General, current President and Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, has fumbled and is wobbling out of relevance, out of government control. The man has indeed lost control of governance and, by extension regard for himself. He has allowed the same bug that bit former President Jonathan to eat him up, that is, allowing the same political gold diggers to surround him and have firm control of power. He is romancing with politicians whose only profession is to occupy political corridors of power and amass wealth for themselves while, the country, Nigeria and, Nigerians can burn to ashes.
One of the first major fumble of Mr. President was in the appointment of his ministers. It took about six months for him to make his appointments and, when he eventually did alas, we were forwarded with a list of people we could easily identify as part of the problem in Nigeria since 1999. Men with no commitment, vision and mission for Nigeria, tired brains, suspected cultists, known propagandists, corrupt politicians, these were the list of ministers President Buhari presented to Nigeria and Nigerians to run the country together with him.
The government of PMB is using every opportunity to cast aspersions on the past government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Nigerians had responded with capital NO, stop the blame game and hit the ground running. We knew there was problem with the then PDP government in power hence, we elected you and, you and your party promised us during the campaigns that you can restore back the glory of Nigeria. You told us wherever you went for the campaigns that CHANGE are possible with APC in the Villa. We still remember very vividly Mr. Babatunde Fashola then as a Governor in Lagos, told the world how easy power can be made constant, now as power minister, the situation has worsened. Mr. Fashola should take away shame and apologise to GEJ’s government.
From north to south, east to west, the economic challenges is biting with poisonous teeth. Businesses are on low ebb, traders now witness more of window shoppers than real buyers because apparently the money, which is the purchasing power, is not there. Prices of commodities are going beyond the reach of the common man. Small scale industries are closing business, the big ones are sacking staffs in their hundreds, others, with interest to establish cannot due to the unfavourable business climate. The number of unemployed women and men are daily growing at an alarming rate with no solution in sight. Rather the government keep presenting Nigerians with excuses, plans, strategies of quitting from the economic challenges we are in with no see-able result.
The anti-corruption agency is more interested in the past deeds of men of yesterday and not in the monumental corruption going on in this present government. Why is the SGF, Babachir Lawal, with all his reported illegal deals given a smooth landing by the Presidency? This was the same attitude of former President Goodluck Jonathan; he sacrificed himself for his lieutenants who stole Nigeria dry. Rather than President Buhari to move decisively and deal with any man in his government reported to have dipped his hand in the cookie jar, he is shielding them thereby, destroying his reputation as a no nonsense corruption fighter. He has forgotten that there is no way you can fight corruption successfully when you deliberately remove the searchlight from your team. If former NSA Ibrahim Dasuki can be kept in detention then, Babachir Lawal should be in Gashua.
The wanton killings, destruction of property by the ‘Fulani herdsmen’ since the assumption of President Buhari in office is worrisome. Our security outfits have done poorly in taming the killers. The Presidency has taken no measure to forestall further killings and destruction of property. No presidential action to encourage and assure the victims family of protection, intervention in arresting the perpetrators of these heinous crimes for prosecution. President Buhari has suddenly forgotten that it was this sort of non-challant attitude that vexed Nigerians to vote against former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. GEJ danced away in Ibadan and Kano while, blood, tears flowed in Nyanya and Chibok. These vandals usually described as Fulani herdsmen have continuously killed men, women, children mercilessly, destroyed homes, farmlands everywhere in the country while President Muhammadu Buhari and his security agencies looked the other way. Is there a conspiracy somewhere? Is the government afraid of something?
Till date, contracts are still been awarded by the Federal Executive Council instead of Bureau of Public Procurement. Why is there no CHANGE here? FEC’s approved contracts are illegal and questionable and, it is because of their vested interests that they do this. FEC is meant for policy making and formation, it is supposed to be a brainstorming meeting on government policies but, no, they only meet for the award of contracts.
The President is not bothered about the wide religious, ethnic fear among citizens. Nigerian north and south, Christians and Muslims are daily getting divided the more. Our president, Muhammadu Buhari is not doing enough to knit Nigerians together. He is running the country like a man with no stake in it.
President Buhari has alienated himself from the people who voted him into power. The people are going through serious economic hardship yet, we hear of billions to purchase kitchen utensil, food, vehicle, furniture for members of the executive and legislative arm, etc., while, most homes go to bed with no food.
Written by Uzodinma Nwaogbe.
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