What Buhari Should Do Differently in His Second Term

By: Deji Yesufu

In the early hours of Wednesday, 27th February, 2019, four days after the Presidential elections held around the nation of Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, declared incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the 2019 presidential election. Buhari polled a little over 15 million votes, while his runner-up Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had 11 million plus votes. Buhari had won 19 states in the country, as against 17 for Atiku – including the Federal Capital City, Abuja. The celebrations are ongoing in the camp of the All Progressive Congress (APC), but the PDP has rejected the results of the polls. The PDP are claiming that INEC had allowed for figures to be changed. At the moment they are putting together a team of lawyers to challenge the results at the courts.

This essay is however directed at the President and his victorious party the APC. Like they say: to whom much is given, much is expected. Going by the results published by INEC, the Nigerian people have again entrusted their lives into the hands of Mr. Buhari for the next four years. It is a big responsibility and it is hoped that the APC do not betray this great trust given to them. A few things stood as an albatross for the administration of Muhammadu Buhari in his first term. I hope to delineate some of them here and suggest that the ruling party work at avoiding a rehearsal of those things in their second term in office.

First is the nation’s National Assembly. When the 8th Senate was being constituted in June 2015, for some reasons best known to Mr. Buhari, he was out of the country. Reports have it that the President displayed a total nonchalant attitude to who was elected the President of the Senate. With the emergence of Bukola Saraki, it became clear to the APC that a very big mistake had been made. Mr. President spent a greater part of his administration waging wars against the National Assembly and could not get salient bills passed into law. In the long run, the leadership of the two houses of the National Assembly, Saraki and Dogara, left the APC and joined the PDP. The good news now is that Saraki was not re-elected to the Senate. While the APC now has majority in both houses. Buhari would need to take full advantage of a house populated by loyal lawmakers. He would need to get the leadership of his party to elect officers into the National Assembly that would be loyal to the Presidency. This way, he can get his laws passed easily. The National Assembly has gained full autonomy from the executives; thus we need not fear a situation were the executive would become autocratic.

Buhari would then need to overhaul his cabinet. He would need to work at removing Ministers who did not meet a minimum standard and replace them. He would also need to pay attention to how his ministers are performing. He may need to empower his Vice, Osinbajo, to keep watch over the ministries and ensure that Ministers are meeting targets in, say, six months periods. In his first term, Buhari seem to have been at sea with the way his Ministers were working. Mr. Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youth and Sports, should be the first to be removed from this present cabinet. The man brought no small embarrassment to the Buhari government. The ministries and various agencies around the nation are the President’s performance outposts. If these people are not doing well, Mr. President is underperforming. By the time one or two scape-goats are made, others would sit up. The APC must realize that Nigerians have truly been gracious in giving them another shot at governance. They must not disappoint the people of this country.

One other thing that stood as an albatross to the first term of Muhammadu Buhari was the obvious nepotism he brought to his government. The trend to put only northerners as head of agencies and parastatals around the country must not continue. Mr. President should realize that every part of this country put him into office and every section of the nation need to be represented in governance. For example, putting people of eastern part of this country in office has the potential for reducing tension in those parts where there are ongoing call for session by neo-Biafrans. It would also help the bring an end to the notion that many of us have that Buhari seem to see nothing good in others except people from his own part of the country.

Lastly, Buhari would need to step up his fight against insecurity and corruption in the land. The Nigerian army should be given some kudos for ensuring peace and safety in volatile parts of the country, particularly Borno and Zamfara, throughout the period of the elections. We however hope that the fight against insurgency in the land would pick up a notch and an end may be brought to the activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria. As we speak, Leah Saribu is still in the den of these animals and the President would be bringing much relief to Christians in the country if this girl is rescued. There is also the need for the incessant killing by Fulani Herdmen to be brought to an end. The President needs to prove to Nigerians that their lives are important to him and thus they should be protected. As the President works on insecurity, he must also work on ensuring that the fight against corruption is genuine. The tendency to only prosecute members of the opposition and to allow those in his party to go scot-free should stop. Justice must be seen to be fairly administered in the country.

If Buhari would pay attention to these things, he likely to succeed in his second term as President. He would be able to build on his ongoing efforts and consolidate them. This way the President and his party, the APC, would be able to rebuild the good will they had when they first came to power in 2015. It would be a testament to the gracious works of fortune that Buhari entered into office on a high note, survived a near removal from office in his re-election bid, and concluded his second term on a high note. If this happen, Nigeria would be the better for it.

Deji Yesufu is the author of the book Victor Banjo. He can be reached on newdejix@gmail.com

Source: https://www.facebook.com/1505609702848568/posts/2018366594906207/