₦airaland Forum

Is President Buhari's 'Wish List' to G7 a Wise Decision?

By Ahmed Isyaku-Katsina

I had been wondering how Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari seemed to be easily relenting that Nigeria can not fight Boko Haram and other issues alone except with help of foreign nations , not even our neighbouring countries of Africa like Chad and Niger, but US and other European nations. This is startling, knowing that PMB had once expressed confidence in Nigeria's capacity , especially its ability to defeat the dreaded Boko Haram group. 'What now causes this foreign reliance?', a question that aroused my curiosity.

I also remember how he leveled criticism against Jonathon's government over its slow and poor response to end Boko Haram insurgency with the country's military capacity he believed Nigeria has. He pecked Jonathan for dragging his heels over taking the fight against Boko Haram seriously. On Aljazeera TV interview with GMB , he expressed concerns and this confidence or words to that effect:

"The government is not prepared to fight Boko
Haram," GMB said.
'[It] is not serious about curbing the insurgency
in the northeast. If the troops deployed in Ekiti
State to rig votes in favour of the government
had been effectively deployed in the north east,
the end of the insurgency could have been met.'
This speech indirectly showed that GMB had confidence in Nigeria's military ability to crush the terror group and put an end to it.

I can also recall how Jonathon's begging for US help to fight Boko Haram in Nigeria met public criticism. His appeal to US for help in Nigeria came in for criticism by some Nigerians who did not only feel that it is awkward for Africa's leading economy to show lack of confidence in its army but also seeking assistance or intervention from US or other foreign nations is like selling Nigeria out for further exploitation or neocolonism. Because it is deemed by some people that US exploits terrorism and other issues to to justify the invading of some countries for their own gains or interests, especially in oil-rich nations. However, US did not even help Nigeria then for some plausible reasons they gave. Although It was rumoured that US refuses to help Nigeria because of Nigeria's continuing stance against 'gay' marriage. However, this rumour was debunked later.

It is ironically startling , that our beloved President Muhammadu Buhari, is now seeking assistance from foreign nations (G7 ) with his 'wish list', and in the list, fight against Boko Haram terror group is said to be topping the list. I was first shocked to see this on the news and I said to myself , "What on earth will make our President take such an unpleasant decision?, Was it part of their party plans or his?' But then I wisely realised something and said to myself , 'Ah ! Our President must be going through a difficult time to make such a hard decision that some Nigerians may not like. Some horrible things must have made him take this difficult and unexpected decision out of necessity.'

I then remembered how PMB inherited big problems from the out gone government: the drained treasury and the dreaded Boko Haram group that the outgone government gave fertile ground to grow due to the government's poor and slow response , and the stubborn monster corruption to kill, and so many traps that some unpatriotic people had to set for PMB on his way , things that will make the journey rough since their target is to create unfortunate circumstances that will negatively influence every decision that he will make- the unpleasant options he will eventually resort to, which automatically , some people may disapprove of or agitate, because it is not everybody that can look at the ugly challenges and understand the gravity of the problems he is facing. Unpatriotic people have almost destroyed the country when PMB came to save it. They planned and calculated everything even after he won the race - the deteriorating problems they created waiting for PMB, the controversy, the chaos, and the storm of criticism they will arouse against him. They sadistically want to see him fail like they did , so that they will make a laughingstock of him in the eyes of Nigerians and the world.

So many things that make PMB's 'wish list' to G7 a necessity for Nigeria, 'the hard way and the only way! But one thing they underestimated this people, is his 'confidence and honesty', the things they did not calculate well, because do not know that they are just unleashing the hero in him. He will rise to redouble his efforts in order to scatter corruption , terrorism, and all the problems they gave fertile ground to grow in order to stop him. He is invincible and unstoppable with God and all the patriotic Nigerians by his side. He will never jeopardise Nigeria's future. I'm optimistic. He knows what he is doing and Nigerians trust him. So let us wait patiently and pray that the journey will be promising and enjoyable. Hope is necessity for peace of mind and our well-being. He will sooner or later take us to the promised land where Nigerians will fulfill their broken dreams. Since we trust him, let us at least give him the benefit of doubt on the 'wish list' and wait and see. The 'wish list' may not be the best option but Buhari is our confidence, so let us continue to trust this true Nigerian.

Better the Devil You Know than the Devil You Don't: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

- Ahmed Isyaku-Katsina

The outrageous Wardrobe allowance to be received by NASS members that caused public outrage and criticism , with huge and unjustified amount of N 17.5 million to be given to each member of 360 House of Representatives, and N21.5million for each of 109 senators , should not be met by our surprise , as some of this NASS members have just recently began painting us the real picture of themselves. We have already seen their true colors in their greedy battle for power in the recent leadership crisis among the members of the same party, exposing the dark side of the so called agents of 'Change' that we yelled for and voted for. Greed for 'power' and love of 'money' , the roots of all evil, is what defined their behaviour in their recent battle for power and their brazen silence approval of the 'national cake' , the overblown Wardrobe allowance they will receive to enjoy, looking at the current situation in the country with an excruciating socio-economic pain devastating the nation. It is very outrageous and unbecoming, seeing how Nigerians believed in them and voted for them to fight corruption and alleviate the nagging poverty in the country. This further , raises the question whether these so called agents of 'change' are true or fake in their intentions of making a difference.

'Change' is easier said than done , and like somebody said , 'Promises are like babies , easy to make but hard to deliver.' We put our trust in many of this people we voted for to represent us, because they promised us 'Change'. We believed in them, not because they themselves, are 'changed' if you look at them , but because we have seen their compassion in trying to save us through their struggles with us and the hope they inspired in us when we were in despair - that we will be saved and safe in their hands in the change they want to make. Some of them , their hands were already dirty , but when they defected to our innocent party of change we accepted them. Thinking that they will turn over a new leaf, our votes gave them a second chance to clean their mess - to mend their ways and right their wrongs. Unfortunately, they now seem to relapse into their old habits, breaking our hearts into pieces. If only we had known that this people are leopards that will never change their spots, we would not have voted for them.

Another category of this people that we blindly voted for , are those novice or new and inexperienced politicians that we did not even know much about .They were opportunistic of the unfortunate situations in the country. We were desperately in need for change, with the nagging pain of socio-economic problems and rampant corruption ravaging the country , that the out gone government then seemed to ignore with poor response to address the problems, which resulted to our resorting to vote for these novice politicians to make change. They exploited our desperation for change and called themselves our saviours. They dubiously shouted 'Change!' to raise our morale high with lies that we believed to be truth , giving us hope and confidence. Under the platform of this true and innocent party of change , we can see them nothing but wolves in sheep clothing. And they are no different from those that seem to relapse into their old ways. Sometimes , it is better the devil that you know than the devil you don't.

However, in this people, are those few, who will be there for us. Amongst them, are those who defected to APC and changed their old ways , and those new ones that came in and they meant it when they said they are our saviours, as well as those that were already there in the party or formed it. This category, are not hypocrites or greedy enough to see politics as a money-making venture like others. They want to make a difference in our lives. I'm optimistic. This people will speak for us and for those without voice. I also be believe that, although they are few, and they may not be House's leaders, they are influential and respected by others because of their honesty and good reputation. We hope , they will call others to order and remind them of their words to keep and to remember the oath they took to serve Nigeria with honesty and with selflessness.
We beseech Almighty God to guide them unto the right path. Ameen.

Is President Buhari's 'Wish List' to G7 a Wise Decision?

By Ahmed Isyaku-Katsina

(ahmedisyakukt@yahoo.com)

I had been wondering how Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari seemed to be easily relenting that Nigeria can not fight Boko Haram and other issues alone except with help of foreign nations , not even our neighbouring countries of Africa like Chad and Niger, but US and other European nations. This is startling, knowing that PMB had once expressed confidence in Nigeria's capacity , especially its ability to defeat the dreaded Boko Haram group. 'What now causes this foreign reliance?', a question that aroused my curiosity.

I also remember how he leveled criticism against Jonathon's government over its slow and poor response to end Boko Haram insurgency with the country's military capacity he believed Nigeria has. He pecked Jonathan for dragging his heels over taking the fight against Boko Haram seriously. On Aljazeera TV interview with GMB , he expressed concerns and this confidence or words to that effect:

"The government is not prepared to fight Boko
Haram," GMB said.
'[It] is not serious about curbing the insurgency
in the northeast. If the troops deployed in Ekiti
State to rig votes in favour of the government
had been effectively deployed in the north east,
the end of the insurgency could have been met.'
This speech indirectly showed that GMB had confidence in Nigeria's military ability to crush the terror group and put an end to it.

I can also recall how Jonathon's begging for US help to fight Boko Haram in Nigeria met public criticism. His appeal to US for help in Nigeria came in for criticism by some Nigerians who did not only feel that it is awkward for Africa's leading economy to show lack of confidence in its army but also seeking assistance or intervention from US or other foreign nations is like selling Nigeria out for further exploitation or neocolonism. Because it is deemed by some people that US exploits terrorism and other issues to to justify the invading of some countries for their own gains or interests, especially in oil-rich nations. However, US did not even help Nigeria then for some plausible reasons they gave. Although It was rumoured that US refuses to help Nigeria because of Nigeria's continuing stance against 'gay' marriage. However, this rumour was debunked later.

It is ironically startling , that our beloved President Muhammadu Buhari, is now seeking assistance from foreign nations (G7 ) with his 'wish list', and in the list, fight against Boko Haram terror group is said to be topping the list. I was first shocked to see this on the news and I said to myself , "What on earth will make our President take such an unpleasant decision?, Was it part of their party plans or his?' But then I wisely realised something and said to myself , 'Ah ! Our President must be going through a difficult time to make such a hard decision that some Nigerians may not like. Some horrible things must have made him take this difficult and unexpected decision out of necessity.'

I then remembered how PMB inherited big problems from the out gone government: the drained treasury and the dreaded Boko Haram group that the outgone government gave fertile ground to grow due to the government's poor and slow response , and the stubborn monster corruption to kill, and so many traps that some unpatriotic people had to set for PMB on his way , things that will make the journey rough since their target is to create unfortunate circumstances that will negatively influence every decision that he will make- the unpleasant options he will eventually resort to, which automatically , some people may disapprove of or agitate, because it is not everybody that can look at the ugly challenges and understand the gravity of the problems he is facing. Unpatriotic people have almost destroyed the country when PMB came to save it. They planned and calculated everything even after he won the race - the deteriorating problems they created waiting for GMB, the controversy, the chaos, and the storm of criticism they will arouse against him. They sadistically want to see him fail like they did , so that they will make a laughingstock of him in the eyes of Nigerians and the world.

So many things that make PMB's 'wish list' a necessity for Nigeria, 'the hard way and the only way! But one thing they underestimated this people, is his 'confidence and honesty', the things they did not calculate well, because did not know that they are just unleashing the hero in him. He will rise in redoubling his efforts to scatter corruption , terrorism, and all the problems they gave fertile ground to grow in order to stop him. He is invincible and unstoppable with God and all the patriotic Nigerians by his side. He will never jeopardise Nigeria's future. I'm optimistic. He knows what he is doing and Nigerians trust him. So let us wait patiently and pray that the journey will be promising and enjoyable. Hope is necessity for peace of mind and our well-being. He will sooner or later take us to the promised land where Nigerians will fulfill their broken dreams. Since we trust him, let us at least give him the benefit of doubt on the 'wish list' and wait and see. The 'wish list' may not be the best option but Buhari is our confidence, so let us continue to trust this true Nigerian.