Buhari’s Incumbency And The Hurdles Ahead

By this time May 29, 2015, the mood of the nation was that of huge fantasy and phantasmagoria of hope bestowed on the incoming government of President Mohammadu Buhari, when the PDP led government of 16 years was to give way to the incoming APC government.

The joy and excitement in the country were so massive that some even interpret the body language of the president to progress.

Civil servants behaved themselves and punctuality to work was revamped. Security personnel, paramilitary establishments pretended to been behaving themselves nicely because of the new sheriff in town. Opinion leaders, thought leaders, politicians, academicians, stakeholders and senior citizens alike went saintly because the fear of the 1980’s Buhari they know.

There was an allegation that even those working at the national grid release more power supply to the nation because power was steady and available across the nation. Food price was in perfect order and control of purchase was supreme. Over time, the mentality of street boys and rascal youths came under meaningful control. Are robbers and prostitute also borrowed a leaf from the ongoing change of regime?

Looting was perceived to be the things of the past. Parents became responsible too because of fear. Nigerians changed their mindsets and thinking’s because of the presence of the new president.

The slogan was ‘sai baba, masu gudu su gudu, Changi dole’ etc. It was a feeling of renaissance and new realms in the nation. While these and more happened, the investors both foreign and local were on observatory mood.

The new president in his amazing historic speech said: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”. He immediately ordered the military high commands to relocate to the theatre of operation that is Borno state. Operation Lafiya Dole was doled back to the Northeast as matching order. Everything looked fine and well. Months in and out, there was no news of change from AsoRock… ministers were appointed 7 months after the regime change. Aso Rock was silent over the expectations of Nigerians. There was an immediate automatic reversal of attitude from changed mindset Nigerians to the status quo.

2015-2019 LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT BUHARI

It remains a debate between the pro and anti-APC followers to whether the Buhari led government has succeeded or failed to deliver on his promises.

It will recall that cardinal and prelate agenda of the president in 2015 was on:

1. Corruption (eradication of corruption and recovery of looted funds)

2. Economy (revamping the failed economy before his time in office expires)

3. Security (the Northeast was in a serious dilemma. His campaign was hinge on the restoration of peace to the nation)

4. Education was part of his plans too.

5. Uniting the nation and protecting it f external aggressions.

6. Stabilizing the naira and making the dollar equal to it.

7. Employment and empowerment to the populace.

Invariably, Nigerians have their different perspectives over the aforementioned items. What has happened in the nation is open to upward appraisal or downward rating as the case may be.

For you to rate his first performance accurately, look at these three key sectors; Security, economy and empowerment. Has the nation progress or not.

HURDLES AHEAD OF THE SECOND TENURE OF PRESIDENT BUHARI

SECURITY QUAGMIRE: When the incumbent president succeeded president GEJ led PDP time in office. The nation was having security challenge limited to the Northeast and few other skirmishes across the nation in general. From 29-5-2019, PMB shall be handing over power to himself. He is faced with humongous security challenges that spanned from the Northeast to Northwestern, North Central to the southeast, upraising in the southwest and South-south regions.

The president has the Boko Haram and banditry activities to contend with. He also has the Killers herdsmen movement atrocious act to handle with more tenacity. The security problem today is national and Hydra in nature. Almost 30 states in Nigeria now have a military presence. Another challenge that the president will be faced with the shrinking of the Lake Chad basin and the worrisome activities of theft in the Gulf of Guinea. Security: human security, life security, food security, personal and individual security etc are the tremendous issues at hand. The president must put his house and oars together to protect lives and property.

REVAMPING AND RESUSCITATING THE FALTERING ECONOMY: The president is expected to take the issue of the economy seriously. Inflation and deflation must be handled with seriousness. The people need a better economy. The price of goods and services are getting out of hand. If the economy is fixed as expected, then succour it will bring will put smiles on the faces of Nigerians. The president must as a matter of urgency set up a high powered economy team. This will help the nation a lot and give people hope. If possible, the president must seek for experts in the world bank and IMF to give them the job of managing the economy of the nation. He shouldn’t give that responsibility to politicians.

3. UNEMPLOYMENT: Statistically speaking, uncountable Nigerians had lost their jobs in the first tenure of the president. To correct these anomalies, the presidency must bring in fresh hands and think tanks to advise it on how to create jobs for the teeming masses. Lack of jobs leads to inequality and this, in turn, brings massive poverty. If the people are poor, they will be backward, aggressive, angry and unpatriotic. If the unemployment rate remains high, Nigeria will remain the poverty capital of the world.

4. CORRUPTION: We appreciate the hatred that this administration has towards corruption. In this dispensation, we want a change of tactics, strategies and logistics in the fight against corruption. He the president must be fair to all. He must diligently hunt or witch hunt all corrupt Nigerians no matter their affiliations and political persuasion. The perspective towards this cardinal issue must be pursued with the global expected standard.

5. UNITY OF THE NATION: Indeed, Nigeria is at a crossroad. So many questions for disintegrations. The president must call all facets of the nation together and talk to them as a father without sentiment. This will help in controlling the overheated tension already existing in the nation.

6. RESTRUCTURING THE NATION: Like the southwest proposal and those of other regions. The nation is set for restructuring. He may not finish or end it, but he must start it. This restructuring if carried out by looking into the national confab report of 2014. It will help in uniting the people and bringing the nation together. There will be a need for stakeholders meetings and debate on this issue of restructuring. The religious bodies must be involved.

7. JUDICIAL AUTONOMY: Mr President must as a matter of necessity give more support to the judiciary to carry out their functions accurately. He must visit the Dasuki and Elzakzaky issues. He must Respect and respond to judicial adjudications. Those men must be released. They shouldn’t be allowed to spend another 4 years in

As a concerned Nigerian, I have put out those critical points of Concern and attention to the president. For him to succeed and write his name in the annals of history as one of the presidents that united and transformed the nation. He must take the points listed seriously. He must correct all mistakes he made in the past tenure now.

God bless the federal republic of Nigeria.

Written by:

Rwang Patrick Stephen

Department of Political Science

Federal University of Kashere Gombe State