NEWSROOM EDITORIAL: Is Buhari the saviour Nigeria needs, or a disaster waiting to happen?
— 6 JUN, 2016
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It was explosive. Simply explosive.
Nothing like it had been witnessed in the nation’s history. Weeks of intriguing, dramatic electioneering campaign had given in to the elections proper. And not wanting to be left out, the elections brought their own (un)fair share of drama. From the usual ballot-box snatching to the unusual kidnapping of corps members acting as election officials, the 2015 elections were not short in tension.
With bated breath, the whole country followed the electoral umpire as it undertook the complicated task of compiling the results of the elections. That too was not devoid of memorable scenes. Can one ever forget that certain professor who couldn’t read his own handwriting or a certain elder statesman who, in the face of defeat, acted a one-man drama on national television much to the amusement of a global audience and the embarrassment of a hundred and seventy million people?
By the time the election results were announced, one needed no divination or special deciphering skills to gauge the prevailing atmosphere in the country. In many ways it was similar to the breaking away of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt.
Jubilations trickled through the nook and cranny of the Nigeria except, of course, in those places where Muhammadu Buhari had no love lost, as in the South East. As chants of “Sai Buhari” continued to fill the airwaves, one could see the optimism in every word. Even many who had voted for the then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan silently hoped for a better deal under the new government.
No doubt, the NDA are economic terrorists. But you don’t kill a mosquito arrogantly perching on one’s scrotum with a sledge hammer.
The messiah had come. The one who would deliver the country from the hands of her oppressors had arrived. Or has he?
It’s been 12 months since President Muhammadu Buhari took office and, at the risk of stating the obvious, the enthusiasm that earlier permeated the country seems to have evaporated.
While many have totally written off the current administration as a total disappointment, many more are on the fence considering whether or not to go all out against their “hero”.
Is Buhari The messiah or just another of the devils – a dangerous one ingeniously masquerading as the long awaited deliverer?
Given the current situation of the country, it is impossible to blame Nigerians for their cynicism. The last 12 months have not been a bed of roses.
The masses, it seems, now helplessly live – to borrow words from Prof Oyewale Tomori – like decapitated chickens running along the Ikorodu expressway on a rainy day.
The number of casualties that have been lost to the hands of Fulani (or Mauritian or Libyan) herdsmen in the country is enough to drive a wedge in one’s throat. And what has been even more daunting has been the government’s relative silence while the gruelling scenes unfold across the country. How can our messiah watch with arms akimbo as we are slaughtered in cold murder? He even seems to be supportive of their cause or why has he made provisions for grazing reserves in the budget?
Nigerians’ angst towards the murderous herdsmen didn’t seem to derive from the senseless killings the incurable nomads have dished out to farming communities but from Buhari’s “it’s not a major problem” body language. The herdsmen were already tagged the “fourth most dangerous terrorist group in the world” under Buhari’s predecessor. The president’s initial description, in the wave of the killings under his watch, of the menace as “a perennial problem and we’ll look into it” probably made him pass across as the devil who sends “his Fulani brothers” on deathly errands against the people who voted him into power.
Mindless conspiracy theory: call it whatever you will. There’s palpable fear among some in this country that there’s a grand plot to convert Nigeria into an Islamic Caliphate. While Buhari and the members of his government insist it is absurd to think so, the same government seeks to expand the reach of Sharia Law while insisting the debate over such expansion should be held behind closed doors.
Abdullahi Salame, the APC rep behind the bill suggests a move to expand Islamic law over a secular state is actually one designed to protect the Christians who call the state “home”. If Sharia law is not expanded, Islamic extremists who attack Christians won’t find a legal deterrent, the rep tells everyone. One wonders if these “Muslims” are not bound by the same penal code to which every Nigerian is bound. This is unfolding under a Buhari who allegedly vowed to use his last breath to spread the reach of Sharia Nigeria-wide. Is Buhari the devil who will sign such bill, should it make it to the top, into law?
And that is not Nigeria’s only worry.
Two weeks ago, Lilian Douglas’ placard-carrying photograph went viral on social media. Her appeal was crisp: “Please help!!! I need a job.” It can be argued that that picture went viral because it put into words the situation of millions of youth. That it is becoming a trend is confirmation enough. While Nigeria has always had an employment deficit, that deficit continues to deepen as a dwindling economy limits more and more the opportunities available in the land. Companies (including the almighty banks) are downsizing to cope, some have even closed shop entirely thereby deepening the unemployment crisis in the country. The National Bureau of Statistics pegged the country’s unemployment rate at 10.4% as at March, 2016. But experts say it is actually as high as 23%. At least one million Nigerians may lose their jobs in the coming months.
Only time can tell if these “promises” and “achievements” indicate Buhari’s messiahship. But time, and time again, “the people’s president” has seemingly disowned his own promises.
As if those weren’t woes enough for the country, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) introduced themselves to the entire nation by blowing up pipelines in their region. Consequently, Nigeria’s oil production is at a 20-year low. The NDA vowed to bring Nigeria’s oil output to the zero mark. While many, including former education and finance minister Obiageli Ezekwesili, offer that military might is not the default and final response to such provocations; Buhari’s every action since militancy resurrected from the dead suggests the president knows no clue beyond bazookas, boats and bombs. Nigeria’s crude oil production fell by 67,000 barrels per day in March, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) says. Crude oil production from Africa’s giant then stood at 1.677 million barrels per day (bpd) in March down from 1.744 million bpd in February. The slump, an ongoing one, cannot be isolated from NDA’s “economic terrorism”. Nigeria’s used to be Number One in this regard, a positions she has now lost to Angola.
No doubt, the NDA are economic terrorists. But you don’t kill a mosquito arrogantly perching on one’s scrotum with a sledge hammer.
We’ve seen how Buhari’s military chiefs dealt with Nigerian Shiites – an unnecessary use of the sledge hammer many argue.
On May 30, the day set apart by Buhari for all Nigerians to celebrate “our” democracy, Nigerian soldiers and the police reportedly unleashed mayhem on “peaceful” Biafra agitators. One would think violence should be the last resort in a democracy. Buhari and Nigeria’s instrument of coercion probably had other ideas. These kind of onslaughts on civilians are what Amnesty International points to urging the international community not to sell military hardware to Nigeria. Some even say the “tribalistic” tone of the attacks could plunge Nigeria into Civil War? No country is known to have survived two civil wars. Is Buhari the devil that will plunge Nigeria into dreaded abyss?
Or is the president Nigeria’s deliverer trying to unite the country, and kill its corrupt tendencies?
It’s rather impossible to forget the numerous battles this administration has been waging in the law courts. Although appreciative of the move, many believe, and rightly so, that the government’s opponents in the courts are made entirely of people from the opposition. That a certain opponent was kept in custody despite a court having ordered his release also adds to the increasing doubts in the heart of many Nigerians. And here we are, celebrating Democracy Day.
Some, afterall, say anti-corruption is not the solution to Nigeria’s myriad of problems. If it was, they ask, how come Britain — touted the “headquarters of global corruption” — is economically viable? Citizens of “fantastically corrupt” Nigeria may soon change their minds about Buhari’s anti-graft crusade if the economy fails to improve.
Who anti-corruption epp? London, “the capital of global corruption”, flourishes like the green grass on the hilly terrains of Ekiti — the El Dorado of every herdsman.
Not a few of the ardent Buhari supporters changed their minds about him being their messiah recently when his administration announced a 67% increase in the pump price of petrol. That was arguably the worst of all blows Nigerians received from the current administration. His promise was to reduce the price of petrol, not to increase it. But his handlers tell everyone the increase was necessary because “Nigeria is broke”. Still, the extravagant lifestyles of Nigeria’s ruling class are being subsidised at the expense of the common man. Buhari’s 2016 “Budget of Change” is even more ridiculous as it contains no proof the president is cutting luxuries for the country’s “servant” leaders.
In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan spent N12.2 billion to run the State House, Nigeria’s seat of federal power. In 2015, he slashed it to N6.6 billion as oil prices crashed. Buhari’s “Budget of Change” voted N18.8 billion for the same purpose in 2016. And it’s not that the price of crude oil has rebounded to $100 per barrel. It currently sells for between $48 and $51 per barrel. It crashed below $40 under Jonathan. Besides, Nigeria’s crude oil output is experience a gradual decline because of NDA’s economic terrorism.
While Nigerians are being told to make sacrifices of doves and pigeons, the ruling political class continues – under Buhari – to shamelessly hold on to its sacred cows, meat actually owned by the teeming masses. The masses, it seems, now helplessly live – to borrow words from Prof Oyewale Tomori – like decapitated chickens running along the Ikorodu expressway on a rainy day.
To worsen matters, Nigerians are made to pay more for a supply of electricity that is actually never supplied. It cannot be disputed that Buhari is yet to deliver Nigeria from dark nights.
How could Buhari be the messiah? Could it be by his government’s touted anti-graft war?
Many of those who sucked the country dry during the past administration are now being prosecuted and many Nigerians are happy about that. No doubt. After all, one of the major reasons they voted for Buhari in the first place was because he “had integrity” and vowed to tackle corruption at all levels. His move on the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has also saved the government lots of money, exposing thousands of ghost workers on the government’s payroll. That is something a messiah does, isn’t it?
But who anti-corruption epp? London, “the capital of global corruption”, flourishes like the green grass on the hilly terrains of Ekiti — the El Dorado of every herdsman. We digress.
The Goodluck Jonathan administration tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to remove subsidy on petrol. Somehow, this administration has successfully managed that divisive feat. Many rightly see that as indicative of the balls the administration possesses as against its predecessor.
Although Buhari’s numerous trips do not necessarily translate into immediate gain to the masses, there’s no doubt that Nigeria’s terrible international image is fixed. At least we can be sure no one will call our president an “ineffectual buffoon”. But New York Times’ description of Buhari as “an improvement” on “disastrous” Jonathan is not particularly flattering.
Although the NDA now poses a different challenge, it would be unfair not to highlight the progress this administration has made in the fight against Islamist sect Boko Haram.
Notwithstanding, the current administration prides itself, at every opportunity, in its social intervention programme included in the recently passed 2016 budget. “Five Hundred Billion Naira has been appropriated in the 2016 budget for social intervention programmes in five key areas,” Buhari said during his first Democracy Day address.
Although the NDA now poses a different challenge, it would be unfair not to highlight the progress this administration has made in the fight against Islamist sect Boko Haram. The return of two earlier kidnapped Chibok girls is a much needed fuel for the fire of hope that more of the girls be rescued.
What’s more? The president has reaffirmed “our commitment to rescuing our girls”.
“We will never stop until we bring them home safely. As I said before, no girl should be put through the brutality of forced marriage and every Nigerian girl has the right to an education and a life choice,” he said.
Only time can tell if these “promises” and “achievements” indicate Buhari’s messiahship. But time, and time again, “the people’s president” has seemingly disowned his own promises — except the one he made about cleaning up Niger Delta’s oil spill. The effort, flagged off on June 2, will cost $1 billion in cash, and 30 years in time.
Is Buhari Nigeria’s deliverer or the devil repackaged by the very Gates of Hell to snuff out the country’s waning breathe and allot her a portion in Hades?
Time will tell and Nigerians are waiting.
Source: www.newsroom.ng

Whatever the case may be, a sleeping Sai Baba is better than ten walking Jonathans.

Buhari Devil? No naa, he no reach he no even near devil mai gardi!

A healer? Hmmm! A person who is causing pains n injury to his citizens?

I rather call him a harm inflictor!

Crystal clear

quid:
Crystal clear

What's your point quid, to bring back corruption or what?

MalcoImX:
What's your point quid, to bring back corruption or what?

Buhari has clearly frustrated this our brother ==>

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u4C1AaaeZE

quid:


Buhari has clearly frustrated this our brother ==>

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u4C1AaaeZE

Problems will always be there, but they'll be overcome. Buhari won't say "I don't give a damn."

MalcoImX:
Problems will always be there, but they'll be overcome. Buhari won't say "I don't give a damn."

So far PMB has been passing the buck, never fully taking responsibility

quid:

So far PMB has been passing the buck, never fully taking responsibility

Bruce is no reference. What do we say to his not seeing anything wrong in his 'brothers' six years? Suddenly he's gotten his voice on Twitter, ....not even in the Senate.