ONE YEAR OF THE BUHARI PRESIDENCY: THE CHALLENGES

President Muhammed Buhari after several attempts finally became the president of Nigeria as the declaration of results by INEC favoured His party and candidature. Thanks to His demigod nature in the north and the emergence of the APC.
The victory of Mr.Buhari seems to have come at the wrong time as just like in the case of His 1983 period as Head of State, He also emerged at a time of great political, economic and social turbulence for Nigeria. Adding this to the great expectations of Nigerians from the Buhari government that many considered as a godsent and messiahic administration, the only solution was for Buhari to Change into a magician.
Mr. Buhari stated earlier this year that he wished he hadn’t been elected president at a time Nigeria was grappling with severe insecurity and low crude oil prices at the
international markets.
“But I say why me? Why is it that it is
when they have spent all the money, when they made the country insecure that I returned?” Mr. Buhari lamented in a February 5 interview with Al-Jazeera. “Why didn’t I come when the treasury was full? Oil price was over $140 per barrel and when I came, it slipped down to $30. Why me?”
To what appears to have been a disappointment when compared to the many promises of the APC, Buhari has simply failed to become that Hausa/Fulani magician-president. Those of us from the business background will understand how difficult it is to revamp a liquidated firm whose networth has been shared to a group of creditors.
While there is a dare need for patience considering the odd situation of things that Buhari met on ground, I shall sincerely try to x-ray some of the obvious challenges that have confronted the Buhari government so far.

1. Delay In Forming A Cabinet: Having had interest in becoming Nigeria's president for over 12 years and having lived in Nigeria all through, many expected that Buhari should have been in the know about the peculiar challenges of Nigeria and would have at such fully prepared to address them head on immediately He ascends the throne. But this wasn't the case. It took Mr.Buhari over 5 months before finally naming His cabinet. He however claimed he was taking his time to appoint the best.
In hindsight, very few people believe the president’s appointment was worth the time he spent shopping for
them. Some analysts have blamed the late appointments partly for the declining state of the economy.
Given the prolonged fall in oil prices even before the elections, they argue, appointing a top economic team early enough could have helped stabilise the system and
assure investors. The president missed that opportunity.

2. Excessive Foreign Trips: After been sworn in as Nigeria's President, Muhammed Buhari has been heavily criticised over what many called unwarranted junketeering. Thus far, President Buhari has visited over 30 countries.
Of these foreign trips Mr. Buhari made in his first year, hardly did he return from any without dropping a
“bombshell”. While some were inadvertent gaffes, too many others were as deliberate as they were damaging.
The PDP has over the times alleged that Nigeria’s president has travelled to distant lands to castigate his people as “criminals”, “corrupt” and
“unruly” and even urged foreign investors to be wary.
Although a plurality of Nigerian foreign policy analysts have condemned the president for his outbursts, some of his supporters say he was being honest.
While the president continues to market Nigeria in His foreign trips,He must be careful to avoid any statement that some people may consider as a de-market to the image of our country. Apart from this, considering the cost of those foreign trips, it is advisable that Mr.President reviews His foreign engagements in a cost-benefit approach and do away with any foreign engagement in which the benefits don't exceed the cost.

3. The Budget Saga: Given that one of Mr. Buhari’s rallying cries during the campaign was a promise to eliminate waste within his administration and streamline state agencies and parastatals, history has recorded that Mr. Buhari’s first
budget was marred by irregularities–embarrassing and administrative irregularities. It failed to send the much- needed signal to unscrupulous civil servants that a new sheriff was indeed in town. It was a disaster and this could have been avoided if Buhari has not risked his trust for habitually crime-friendly civil servants and law makers. Apart from this, many Nigerians have bitterly complained about the cost of the Aso Rock budget especially amounts budgeted for food, health and other needs of the presidency which in some cases far exceeds that of the previous government or those budgeted for public institutions.

4. Presidential Air Fleet: From a Boeing 737 to choppers, those who should know said there are about 11 aircraft in the presidential air fleet. His campaign assured Nigerians that some of those aircraft would be disposed of if the president won the
elections. Not one has gone yet. Why Mr. Buhari has not sold any of them or even addressed Nigerians on why he couldn’t sell remained unclear. It is absolutely necessary for the President to avoid the unnecessary luxury that cost our country lots of money. He must therefore urgently keep to His words and sell more than half of the presidential air fleet and raise more funds for development.

5. His Perceived Silence On Key Events In The Country: One key statement of the Buhari's inauguration was that "He belongs to everybody...." and this is what a president is supposed to be and do as the entire country is his constituency. However, Mr.Buhari has received several knocks over his silence on key issues that affect Nigerians. Many have criticised the president for not issuing immediate statements condemning recent attacks like that of the Boko Haram, herdsmen killings in Agatu and other southern communities. But the president was swift in condemning terrorist attacks in Paris, Brussels, Grand-Bassam and elsewhere.
Similarly, Mr. Buhari hardly speaks to local media. From when he would name his ministers (in U.S.) to how he won’t let the central bank devalue (in Paris) the president has made most of the key pronouncements abroad.
Talking to local media would have helped him better understand and gauge public opinion.
The President must show the required sensitivity and attach priority to addressing our local media especially on our local issues.

6. Votes Determining Development Benefits: The ethnic and tribal sentiments that have for long been a
feature of Nigeria’s elections were palpable in the outcome of the 2015 general elections. The results showed that while the people of the north embraced Mr. Buhari in large numbers, those in the south-south and south-east overwhelmingly voted to keep “their own” in
office.
Notwithstanding, a plurality of Nigerians had expected that the president would govern fairly and inclusively in order to heal whatever wound the election may have left
behind.
Alas, there’s little evidence to show that Mr. Buhari did this. Instead, he began by appointing mainly northerners to the consternation of even those who were amongst his
staunchest allies. Mr. Buhari appointed dozens of aides in the first weeks of his administration without ceding any of the positions to the southeast.
Asked how he intended to implement an inclusive development of the south-south, Mr. Buhari delved into
the results of the elections, speaking of how the limited support he received from the area would certainly reflect in his government’s policies and programmes to them.
When pressed on the consistent complaints of marginalisation by the South-East,, a visibly irritated
president asked in his maiden media chat on December 30, 2015: “What do the Igbos want?”
As we mark the first year of this administration, Mr.President must ensure that He kills any unnecessary feeling of marginalisation by any part of our country by giving a sense of belonging to every body and respecting the principles of federal character in His appointments. As only this can influence the fortunes of His party in the southern part of the country.

7. Disclosure of Assets: Since 1999, Nigerian leaders have always kept the issue of their asset declarations in secrecy. We have had cases of under-declaration which negates the relevant laws guiding public officials in our country. But hope beckoned with the coming of this administration. Mr. Buhari is arguably the first-ever Nigerian leader that
was elected into office on the perceived strength of his character as a conviction politician that could decisively deal with corruption —Nigeria’s worst bane.
To further convince Nigerians that he was, indeed, a frugal and incorruptible man, Mr. Buhari, in one of his speeches, said he would publicly declare his assets upon
assumption of office. He also said he would prevail on his appointees to do the same.
Shortly after his swearing in, Nigerians began demanding copies of Mr. Buhari’s assets declaration documents as submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau. And the president began prevaricating about the matter immediately.
At first, he released a statement claiming to have fulfilled his public assets declaration vow on June 6, 2015. That turned out to be misleading. Mr. Buhari only submitted his assets declaration form to the CCB as every government official is mandated to do.
Under intense public pressure, the president released a statement enumerating his assets and those of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The statement was at best imprecise, with no clear details of listed assets. It failed to provide addresses of landed of properties, vehicle models, assets of spouse and children as required by law, and more. The presidency assured those details would be available to every Nigerian once they were verified by the Code of Conduct Bureau.
The bureau has since done so, but Mr. Buhari still refuses to come entirely clean on how much he is worth, even though the Ahmed Joda transition committee advised that immediate public declaration of assets would be a “quick win” for Messrs. Buhari and Osinbajo.
Questioned during a presidential media chat in 2015, a visibly itchy president questioned why he was singled out, from amongst the governors and other political
leaders.
Till date, the president has failed to disclose his assets by sending the photocopies of what he submitted to CCB to the media, as former President Umaru Yar’Adua did.
Our President must in line with protecting His integrity make His asset declaration public and also seriously compel His ministers to do same. This will be another way of ensuring His anti-corruption war begins from the within.

8. General Insecurity: Despite been a former military head of state, the Buhari government has suffered from great internal security challenges thus far with the security agencies virtually been unable to proactively handle the situations. The insecurity has been posed by Boko Haram/, Fulani herdsmen, Armed robbers, Niger Delta Militants and secessionist movements like Biafra's IPOB and MASSOB, Cultists, Kidnappers and Cattle rustlers. The government must therefore take the security of lives and property seriously by tackling these security challenges head on as this will ensure the stability of the country and confidently attract more investors.

9. The Judiciary And Perceived Disobedience To Court Orders: The judiciary under the Buhari administration has been criticised mightily for her actions; from the decisions emanating from the 2015 electoral petitions to her controversial judgements. Even in its fight against corruption the Judiciary has been acting in ways that shows that she is directly or indirectly supporting corruption and corrupt individuals. This had led to the probe and subsequent sanctioning of some Judges. Apart from this, a section of Nigerians had come hard on the president over what they call his disobedience to court orders especially those relating to corrupt individuals. Importantly, the president must ensure that He fights corruption within the ambit of the law and avoids sectionalising his corruption war or targeting just a particularly party or group. He must also take serious steps aimed at removing bad eggs from the Judiciary and ensure her independence.

10. INEC And Elections So Far: After the 2015 polls, elections conducted under President Buhari have become violent, fraudulent, inconclusive and generally controversial. Many INEC officials have been fingered for corrupt practices, yet none has been punished accordingly. This is ofcourse affecting the global stance of how democracy is faring in Nigeria and Africa at large. Ahead of the 2019 polls, President Buhari must ensure that INEC is overhauled, necessary electoral reforms are put in place and citizens/political parties are properly reorientated to ensure peaceful polls.

Yes there may be more challenges confronting this government than I have highlighted here, but the challenges are ofcourse surmountable, therefore Nigerians must give the government the required support to ensure she keeps to her promises and makes our country great again.

Happy Democracy Day To All My Esteemed Friends.

Comr.Suanu Prince Pyagbara
(Political Analyst)
Portharcourt
29/5/2016

Only God will deliver us .