President Muhammadu Buhari is seek. Very sick. Of this there can be no doubt or doubters. His importance to those who want power to remain in the north, cannot be over stated. That they brought it to themselves is obvious and it is their fault. The saying goes that if you fool me once shame is on you; but if you fool me twice shame is on me. The shame is on northern oligarchs. President Obasanjo fooled them once by promoting a sick Yar’ Adua for president and putting up a young vibrant Jonathan as Vice President to take up the presidency when Mr. Yar’ Adua gets killed by the job. He succeeded; although the pliability of Jonathan turned out to be a miscalculation. Shame on OBJ. Then Mr. Tinubu took OBJ’s script and fooled the northern oligarchs a second time by casting his lot with an obviously sick old Muhammadu Buhari and attaching a young Mr. Osibanjo as VP. It worked again. Shame on the oligarchs.
The northern oligarchs must know when and how to cut their losses. And this is the time to do so.
Mr. Buhari has been president for about two years and if Osibanjo is made the president now it will be regarded as a full term and he would only have one more term to serve for a total of 6/7 years in all. But the longer easing out President Buhari is delayed the more chances Osibanjo has to serve full two terms (8years) plus whatever part of Buhari’s term he serves. It could be ten years or even more given that he has for all practical purposes served since November 2016.
Time to cut losses.
Some people could argue that 2019 would be a good time to force out Osibanjo from the presidency. This school of thought could hang on to their position, but the truth of Nigerian politics is that dethroning an incumbent is difficult. Jonathan’s case is different. Jonathan’s presidency was anchored at the banks of SS and SE: The old Biafra. It was easy for the true Nigerians to come together to again defeat Biafra. Osibanjo’s presidency would this time be a battle fought by the real Nigerians. SW need to only make vague promises to SE/SS and maybe NC to keep Osibanjo in place for what could be 10 years.
Those who have ears to hear should do so.
Former Secretary of State for USA Mr. Kerry had already interviewed northern governors for the post of the president of Nigeria, but Obama’s administration is no longer in power and President Trump’s agenda is based on dismantling anything with Obama’s signature. He may not look up to the north to provide the president of Nigeria. His hatred for Islam is not hidden.
And on finding a northern president after Buhari, it appears that the eyes are focused on former VP Mr. Atiku. That too will be another mistake much akin to Buhari/Yar’ Adua debacle. He is an old man with not much left in him.
Nigeria is not a place for the old or sick in mind or body. With ethnic, religious, educational and economic, etc. differences, a Nigerian leader should be between 40-60 years old and in a tip-top health and mind. Such a man or woman is likely to survive the slings and arrows of outrageous faith thrown at him/her.
And since men have had a go at it since 1960 and before independence it could be the right time for a woman.
I offer Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala if she would accept. She can be tough.
Written by Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba.
