President Buhari
For so long, many Nigerians have been attempting to study and
decode President Muhammadu Buhari, using different lenses. Some only had
a modicum of clue on who he may be, counting on the code of information
they obtained from the media when he first romped into global limelight
as the Nigerian head of state in a military garb.
During that military era, Buhari occurred to a section of expectant
Nigerians as a no-nonsense dictator with brazen disposition to power.
Pairing in leadership with the late Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon, adjudged
as restless, hardworking and unsmiling made the Buhari’s regime almost a
nightmare for Nigerians who took business as usual all through the
period he reigned as Head of State.
Nonetheless, many perceived and saw Buhari as a Messiah with the
military government he presided over. Nigeria was in rot when he took
over in 1983. Indiscipline and corruption were in great synergy to
incinerate the glory that Nigeria carried from independence. The sacked
civilian government presided over by former President Shehu Shagari
operated recklessly. Cabinet members acted like heists with moral
bankruptcy while being less patriotic in the judgement of many.
When the Buhari’s military regime came on board, frustrated
Nigerians troop to the streets in wild celebration. The reproach thrown
up by the rising tide of social vices in all parts of the country after
the collapse of Second Republic made the War Against Indiscipline (WAI)
launched by his government very compelling. Nigerians were remolded by
WAI in conduct and character while the government enforced discipline
all through. From then on, Buhari struck gold in popularity that
lingered with him till he got elected as president in May 29, 2015.
For President Buhari, history appears to be on re-hearse, as the
throwback of mismanaged opportunities, which Nigeria suffered under the
government of Shagari, seems to be on display again. In simple terms,
the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan offered Nigerians
mirrors of infractions, excesses and lack of focus akin to what
political players exhibited in the Second Republic.
Nigeria gravitated towards the precipice under the government of
former President Jonathan. In that government, acts of corruption
ballooned uncontrollably, leading to growing terrorism, insecurity and
other heinous social vices. Then battered Nigerians electorate craved
for emergence of a Messiah. Again, Buhari emerged to play the role.
For President Buhari, however, saving Nigeria from imminent
collapse entails a fight against corruption, terrorism and the need to
re-grow the economy. He also needs to engage the swarming army of the
unemployed in Nigeria in the productive sector. These are daunting
challenges, which he needs to address in a short time. Yet, Nigerians
appear unprepared to appreciate the enormity of the challenge and
dilemma that the Buhari’s government faces day and night in efforts to
correct the ills of the past, while taking off with the Change mantra.
It is not in doubt that the President has fully addressed his mind
to bring about the changes that Nigeria needs. Those who work closely
with him attest to his desire and determination to take Nigeria out of
the woods. The aggregate view is that the reigning Nigerian President is
a man to be fully understood by Nigerians who want to know where he
aims to take their country.
Buhari, is said to start his day, leaving no one around him in
doubt that the ‘change’ that he preaches must start from his own office.
The President leads by example. He is said to be desirous of building
up institutions that will outlive him. He is also said to depend on his
protocol department to operate hitch free standards on crowd control in
the seat of government.
The president is a stickler for time with perceived determination
to change the poor attitude of Nigerians on time matters. He attends
events on schedule, gradually sweeping off all elements on time wasting
that had for years led to waste of public funds. Under him, guests at
events are never kept waiting for hours in a manner they were used to
with past Presidents and leaders.
By his body language, President Buhari appears not keen on living
the opulence that the presidential power offers. His close aides attest
to the fact that the President eats moderately, dons moderate attires,
rides in official cars, while he most eagerly avoids any act likely to
generate a scandal.
Although, there have been hues on the long list of foreign travels
he had made so far, only a few knew that President Buhari, all along,
has not been collecting allowances, or rather estacodes, contrary to
insinuations. He is said to be content with arrangements made for his
comforts by host countries. Buhari is also noted to have pruned down the
number of officials in his entourage on every trip as a means of saving
cost.
Before Buhari came to power, successive President’s saw nothing
wrong in subjecting Abuja residents to long grueling hours of discomfort
in traffic gridlocks with roadblocks to ease their movements in and out
of Abuja. President Buhari has put a stop to that, offering a relief by
flying in helicopter to his destinations, most especially to free the
traffic along the airport road.
President Buhari once went to an open eid-ground in Abuja for
prayers and surprisingly found himself surrounded by more than a mammoth
crowd of admires, all surging to catch a glimpse of him. The stampede
which ensued in the process reportedly touched the President who
immediately resolved to limit his spiritual exercises to the
Presidential Villa.
For Nigerians who crave to understand the President better,
Ministers and heads of governments have been having the free will to
display initiatives while not being emasculated. According to reports,
President Buhari only acts as an enabler, a guide for ensuring that the
plans by his government to re-invent Nigeria works in the long run. The
desire by the President to allow institutional growth and development is
the reason he hardly meddles in the affairs of the other arms of
government; the legislature and judiciary, which he felt have the
internal mechanism to make adjustments each time they erred.
By now critics should be aware that the success President Buhari
has been recording in the fight against terrorism and corruption, the
process of regenerating the economy through diversification as well as
his cost saving initiatives, are a testament that his government is on
the right track towards bringing back hope for the citizens.
About the Author:
Folusho Daniel is an Abuja-based public affairs commentator and a columnist for Vanguard Newspap
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