₦airaland Forum

President Buhari and the ‘Hailing Hailers’, By Majeed Dahiru2016-07-07


…the Buhari administration does not need to constantly remind Nigerians of the lack-lustre Jonathan administration. In fact, any comparism between Buhari and Jonathan is an indictment on the Buhari administration. All that are needed are pragmatic solutions to problems. President Buhari is human and should be treated as such. Conversely, whoever loves him should tell him the truth at all times so that he can succeed and quit the scene with a louder ovation and his age-long reputation intact after his tenure.


Muhammadu Buhari, a retired military officer, former military Head of State, politician and statesman was elected as the fourth president of the Fourth Republic of the Nigerian federation after his fourth attempt, on march 28, 2015. The election of Muhammadu Buhari as president of the Nigerian federation is a lesson in steadfastness, courage, determination and fidelity. Buhari, more than any other individual in Nigeria, kept genuine political opposition alive throughout the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He had consistently refused to participate in any arrangement that sought to compromise opposition, in the name of a government of national unity, a bait which the ruling PDP used to neutralise opposition parties. True to his reputation for integrity, honesty and fidelity, Buhari was able to avoid the temptation of material favours in exchange for abandoning his ideals and quest for good governance, and hence had contested every election against PDP candidates since 2003, each time recording impressive results, despite losing eventually. The history of the development of Nigeria’s democratic process stars Buhari brightly, because without him Nigeria may have ended up a one-party state. There is no democracy without opposition and a vibrant political environment.

However, Buhari has been president for over a year and appears to be overwhelmed by the task of leading Nigeria to progress and prosperity. He often blames the current socio-economic woes of Nigeria on the maladministration of PDP. He blames PDP for the pervasive corruption and moral decay bedeviling our country [b]. The president gives an impression that the PDP achieved absolutely nothing in their 16-year rule. In fact, he sometimes infers that PDP destroyed Nigeria and he cannot perform a miracle in one year to rebuild the country. Therefore, the below average performance of the Buhari administration in the last one year, against popular expectations is often blamed on PDP. The president’s enormous crowd of supporters agree completely with him. He enjoys a devout following, cult like even, that regards him as infallible. They are the hailing hailers. They are aided greatly by the efficient APC propaganda machinery. The propaganda is carried out with fascist precision with the aim of indoctrination, and it has succeeded in creating an army of fiercely and subjectively loyal supporters who are intolerant of criticisms or opposing views. The frenzy and mass hysteria is dangerously palpable. Nigeria is gradually becoming George Orwell’s Animal Farm where like comrade Napoleon, Buhari is always right.

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The situation in 1999 when President Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP was elected president, was far worse than what APC’s Buhari inherited. The present democratic dispensation was preceded by 16 years of military rule, from 1983 to 1999…The legacy of that prolonged military rule was the total collapse of state institutions, decay in public infrastructure, bankrupt public corporations and complete lack of accountability and due process in the management of the affairs of state.

While it is not in doubt that the PDP’s 16-year rule fell below average and left Nigerians largely disappointed, it is equally farcical to claim that Nigeria did not record any achievement during the period. The situation in 1999 when President Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP was elected president, was far worse than what APC’s Buhari inherited. The present democratic dispensation was preceded by 16 years of military rule, from 1983 to 1999. Military rule in Nigeria was characterised by large scale corruption and thorough abuse of power. The legacy of that prolonged military rule was the total collapse of state institutions, decay in public infrastructure, bankrupt public corporations and complete lack of accountability and due process in the management of the affairs of state. President Obasanjo inherited a foreign reserve of about $3.7Bn, with the price of crude oil hovering around $17pb with a maximum peak of $64pb and a combined foreign and local debt of about $34Bn. He inherited an impoverished and corrupt civil service. He immediately set out to work without complaining too much about the past. He assembled a team of experts and very bright minds who, through a series of reforms, transformed the economy of Nigeria from the confused mixed economy of the military era into a modern private sector driven economy. Within one year of his administration, President Obasanjo increased minimum wage to N7500 for federal government workers, which instantly pulled a lot of working class families out of rank poverty into the middle class.

By the end of his tenure, President Obasanjo had grown our foreign reserve from $3.2 billion to $32 billion, with an additional $9 billion in the excess crude account. Nigeria experienced an unprecedented inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI) worth about $50 billion which rapidly expanded our economy and created massive employment and job opportunities, culminating in individual prosperity for a significant section of the citizenry. Nigeria’s GDP growth rate was positive at an annual average of 7 percent. Nigeria’s inflation rate, which reached an all-time high of 47.56 percent in 1996, dropped drastically to a record low of -2.49 percent in January 2000 and later steadied at a 12.13 percent average. Obasanjo also led Nigeria out of its debt burden by getting a relief of $18 billion from our creditors after paying off $12Bn. He established the EFCC and ICPC to fight corruption comprehensively and he succeeded largely in making Nigerians realise that public officials need to be accountable for government money and can be punished if found culpable of graft. The various reform initiatives of the Obasanjo administration laid a solid foundation for our future growth and development, which have supported and guided succeeding administrations, including that of the current Buhari administration. Besides, some of the pillars of and leaders APC at the three arms and tiers of government were former members of PDP, who were actively involved throughout the period of PDP’s rule. The Nigerian ruling elite are one and the same irrespective of party differences. The problems confronting Nigeria as a nation are beyond partisan divides but fundamentally rooted in the operational structure of state. Therefore, blaming PDP at every opportunity is becoming stale rhetoric.


President Buhari should lament less over the past and courageously move the nation forward like former President Obasanjo did in 1999. He must realise the reason he was voted into power – the perceived and real failures of the Jonathan presidency, economically and otherwise.

President Buhari should lament less over the past and courageously move the nation forward like former President Obasanjo did in 1999. He must realise the reason he was voted into power – the perceived and real failures of the Jonathan presidency, economically and otherwise. It must be emphasised again that contrary to claims by this government, they inherited a better government than PDP did in 1999. As at May 2015, our foreign reserves stood at about $29 billion, with about $2 billion in the excess crude account, in addition to optimally performing revenue generating agencies which ensured steady income into the federation account. Nigerians rejected former President Goodluck Jonathan due to the better candidacy of Muhammadu Buhari.

Therefore, the Buhari administration does not need to constantly remind Nigerians of the lack-lustre Jonathan administration. In fact, any comparism between Buhari and Jonathan is an indictment on the Buhari administration. All that are needed are pragmatic solutions to problems. President Buhari is human and should be treated as such. Conversely, whoever loves him should tell him the truth at all times so that he can succeed and quit the scene with a louder ovation and his age-long reputation intact after his tenure.

Majeed Dahiru, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja and can be reached through dahirumajeed@gmail.com.

hucienda:
The hailing hailers are the zombies, no?

Bugatie:
Nigerians can generate names sha

lol... guy na so I see for here am o.

wailers and zombies.

Took a while to discern who those called zombies are and why they're called that.

Reyginus:
That's the simple and logical truth. But the article only makes sense to simple and logical people. The majority of Nigerians exhibit a complex level of stupidity. This is not an insult.

To some persons, this country began to exist sixteen years ago. The more complex(in stupidity) take it down to 6 years forgetting that the targeted clueless one only reigned for 5 years. Propaganda is an Art of War. A very powerful one because the Animal(victim) thinks he's in control.

These are the products of a dysfunctional system of Education. A country where Education and Educating is viewed on the Ability to Pass Exams and people rewarded by this Ability and not what they do with it afterwards.

It's education. If you can educate people to your taste they can easily work with you. This is the internet. If people cannot make use of their brains I wonder why it's also difficult to research using the internet. I take it back. That's a paradox.

Like Reno Omokri posited, the best way to shut up a habitual complainant is to ask him for solutions The current man is not willing to answer that yet.

edoyad:
The author realer impressed me. He really analyzed the situation and called it for what it truly is. We cannot continue hearing the same old rhymes of "If Jonathan and PDP had not.." , in the second year of his administration. If Obasanjo could accomplish all he did in 8 years with Niger Delta militants sabotaging his efforts, how hard can it be to push this country forward for Christ's sake.

Reyginus:
Unfortunately we'd keep hearing it. That's the Plan. You know, if you don't keep people busy they'd find time for something else. That's the method.

But there's a limit to what a brainwashed man will do. Like TuPac said, one day the poor will have nothing to eat and they will eat the rich people.

Someday, like we are already having, when these blind supporters crave for something more than the usual mental food they'd break off these shackles.

What's needed right now is a spark. The people are angry and hungry. Just some more deceit and wickedness their stupidity shall be healed.

frankline5:
that's why am so angry about how lame PDP is.
I don't blame them sha,the tyrant in power has succeeded in instilling fear in everyone with his vindictive EFCC and DSS.

frankline5:
that's why am so angry about how lame PDP is.
I don't blame them sha,the tyrant in power has succeeded in instilling fear in everyone with his vindictive EFCC and DSS.

Guyman02:
We expect GEJ to brief the President on how he can transform himself into a father for all as many had anticipated during the elections.

It is frustration and hardship that can lead disgruntled citizens of the same faith with him in Kano and Niger States to kill a Christian woman and men respectively over claims of blasphemy in a manner that is even contrary to Islamic injunctions.

The nation is sinking and needs to be rescued by all citizens. Buhari made mistakes by segregating against citizens who did not vote for him and this was aptly reflected starting from his initial appointments into his kitchen cabinet; people like General Danbazau (Minister of Interior) who cannot hide his ethnic bigotry should be shown the way out of his govt.
He needs to reach out to leaders in the South East and South South who are getting more angered by the use of the military against their people and invasion of their communities which garners local support for militant groups like Niger Delta avengers who have effectively used media propaganda to sell their message and set themselves apart from other agitators who are seen majorly as Ijaw militants, the NDA have projected themselves as fighting for the interest of the SE and SS by destroying critical oil infrastructure while at the same time condemning killing of security personnel and kidnapping in the Niger Delta by other groups using the media. To tackle them you need local support which Nigeria is not getting at present and the revenue from oil continues to dwindle with attendant consequences of many states now unable to pay workers salaries.

The people of Benue, Taraba, Enugu, Ekiti who have lost loved ones to Fulani herdsmen assumed to be Buharis kinsmen needs empathy from the President and not silence.
Appointments into key govt agencies should be spread out evenly as there are still good people in every region of the country to dispel the fear of dominance by some groups in the country.

His utterances of goodwill to the citizens can help revive the economy like Obama did for America, when something bad happens in any part of the country he should reach out to people in those areas, we watch on CNN how Obama stops everything he is doing even if he is outside US to address the nation when there is a mass shooting or even accident, he comforts the bereaved families and tells them that the whole America mourns with them and feels their pain, somethings he cries along with them even if it is fake tears , thats leadership and reassuring for the people which Nigerians also expect from their leader; that way he can rebuild confidence of Nigerians and even his enemies will struggle to have something bad to say about him.
When he is abroad and somebody says Nigerians are corrupt he should not accept, but when he comes back he can tell us at home how corrupt we are and flog those who are corrupt using the law and not condemn his citizens in front of some white guys who are more corrupt than us.

Anyone who says he doesnt like Nigeria and wants to protest peacefully should be allowed, even many people in Texas says they hate America and want to have their own country are not shot at by security agencies, they go around collecting signatures for a referendum which they have not been able to achieve the required number for years because it is their right to freedom of expression.
In the UK there was a referendum by Scottish independence activist last year which failed.

The President needs to look into the confab report and see areas where he can borrow some ideas from that document, he must stop being rigid and know that it is more difficult to be a leader under a democratic dispensation than military where you rule with decrees.
He should not fall into the trap of GEJ by surrounding himself with sycophants who are there to tell him only the good part that is palatable to the ear.
GoodLuck Buhari!

Guyman02:
.