Five Mistakes Baba Buhari Must Not Repeat



The rants that enveloped the announcement of President Muhammadu Buhari in the just concluded election was so profound that makes one wonder who the people really voted for and how Buhari got them but that one is another topic for another day. This article focusses on some acts either deliberate or otherwise, that made Buhari so Unpopular among the Nigerian elites and why it is will be devastating to repeat them.

The first Buhari mistake in 2015 was his indifference or lack of interest in the national assembly election which produced the likes of Senator Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara who later became a big thorn on his flesh and an attempt to remedy the situation brought about bickering, intimidations, threat and war literally between the legislative and the executive to the extent that a simple function of a President presenting an annual led to chaos. Many bills, reforms, and acts that would have benefited Nigerians were stalled by the Saraki cohorts and Presidency responded by using the judiciary to intimidate. These and the rest are sufficing to say that everything was a mess which must not be repeated at all cost, PMB must influence who becomes the Speaker and Senate president so as not repeat the last brouhaha.

Another way PMB erred Nigerians is his distance from Nigerian media. Over the past three years (minus election period), One can easily count how many times President Muhammadu Buhari actually had a chat with the media houses but he finds it easy to talk to foreign media, In fact, after He was inaugurated in 2015, the first interview he granted was to Christian Amanpour of CNN. He even dispelled the cloning rumor in the abroad. This was a grave mistake on his part because most Nigerian are enlightened people and distancing himself from the media means he distanced himself from Nigerians and this must particularly never be repeated. Another point to be taken from this is his derogatory comments whenever he travels abroad, comments like lazy Nigerian youths, Nigerians are corrupt etc. must stop as it puts Nigeria/Nigerians in a bad light. He was like a CEO that badmouths his products, it is crazy, to say the least.

Buhari waited for complete six good months sourcing, researching and searching for a minister to work with and at the end gave us a list that has the likes of Solomon Dalung, Bayo Shittu, Abubakar Malami, Chibuike Amaechi and Himself as ministerial nominees. One would think the president was joking when he released the ministerial list but alas, he was damn serious and we all saw what happened afterward. Baba must put square pegs in square holes this time around as Nigeria has more sons and daughters who are more sensible and capable than those clueless simpletons. He must also unburden Minister Fashola portfolios as the three Ministry are too much for him to handle. Baba should also recuse himself from becoming a minister this time around as it is distracting and time wasting. Nigeria has a lot of talent to draw from.


Also, the President in the past seems to be an ignoramus to issues affecting Nigerians, it takes a lot of hashtags, trends and foreign media engagements before Baba attention is drawn to core issues affecting Nigeria and Nigerians alike. You claimed not to know about Justice Onnogen, Police intimidation and harassment of Nigerians, Fulani killings, Kemi Adeosun certificate saga nor initial knowledge of Babachir Lawal grass cutting scandal. What are you? John Snow? This kind of feign ignorance has to stop because as the president of a country, your job is to know. The “I don’t know attitude” makes it seems like the president is taking us all for a ride. He can do better.

Last and most importantly, Baba should run an inclusive government. I know as a Hausa man, he feels he would be more comfortable working with his tribesmen but Nigeria is an entity that encompasses a lot of tribes who has individual interest and they might feel marginalized if they do not have anybody representing their interests. The present service chiefs are mostly from the north and Baba Buhari important appointments seem to favor one section of the country, this makes Baba look biased which is not a good attribute for president in any saner clime. Once you are a president, the country comes first and other things must not supersede the interest of our Beloved country. He should be perceived as a man who is really for everybody. He must also be vocal when there is violence involving herdsmen and farmers.

Do you feel I excluded some things? Let us have a conversation in the comment section and on twitter @abiodunsays. I hope we will eventually get there as a nation. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
https://medium.com/@Abiodunsays/five-mistakes-baba-buhari-must-not-repeat-e95d3e8a61f4

You should read this then >> https://www.nairaland.com/5055440/buhari-appoints-new-acting-controller

You are very right. Ignoring the politics of NASS leadership at the initial stage and appointing his cabinet late affected the performance of his administration.