It is fast approaching two years since President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as President of Nigeria. Precisely, May 29, 2015 was the day Nigerians thought they had voted for a messiah to rescue them from the abject poverty they witnessed during the last administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. If Israelites had known they would be confronted with hunger, poverty, hardship and depression, they would not have followed Moses out of Egypt.
“If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death,” the Israelites said to Moses and Aaron. The same scenario is currently playing itself out where things have gone from better to worse under President Buhari. Those who do not have the opportunity to express what they are passing through publicly are now resorting to committing suicide or attempting to commit suicide, which ever way.
That said, I overheard some 'cabals' whispering to Nigerians that President Buhari would be the one taking Nigerians to the promised land. If I may ask, which promised land are they talking about? Is it the one in the bible? An adage says, “A ki i fini joye awodi ko ma le gbadiye,” meaning, “One cannot be given the title ‘eagle’ and yet be incapable of snatching chickens.”
It is a bitter truth that Nigerians can no longer wait for miracles to happen under this government after having waited for nearly two years without any positive results. If Mr. President seems to be doubting my write up, I will advise him to quickly fly over to Lagos and take a walk just to test his popularity. A good leader has no need of being feared by the people, they say.
Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidents made life inconvenient for Nigerians, but the scenario has grown worse with President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock. No wonder the political theorist Harold Laski said, “It is better a government does not exist than having a government under which people continue to wallow in abject poverty.”
At this juncture, if we do not say the truth as it is, the upcoming generation won't forgive us. President Buhari spends his two years playing the blame game, leaving governance behind and pretending to fight corruption. Nigerians voted for President Buhari with the hope of enjoying great leadership, but the reverse is now the case as things are not in any way getting better.
Considering the numerous challenges facing Nigeria, one ought to have thought that Mr. Buhari and his party would brainstorm to execute at least one project that would have a positive impact on the people. Political sycophants are now distracting people's attention from Buhari's failures by focusing on the 2019 presidential elections. I read recently that a governor in the South-East publicly said he would encourage Mr. Buhari to go for the second term. Of the presidents' 24 months in office, Buhari has spent over 8 months battling with his health and shuttling between Nigeria and the United Kingdom for medical treatment. Of course, my instinct tells me that even if they push President Buhari forward to go for the second term, the president might decide to nominate another person elsewhere.
Under this government, the nation's democracy has turned to autocracy. The legislative and executive arms of the government are flexing their muscles. Both are now toying with the lives of over 176 Million Nigerians who are struggling to put food on their tables instead of of focusing on governance. By next year, the country will embark on campaigns for the 2019 general election, where the executive will neglect laudable projects it ought to have tackled in the past. This will be the time the sitting president will fool gullible Nigerians, giving the impression that if voted for the second term, he would be able to do better.
As the condition of the country continues to deteriorate, the majority of Nigerians are beginning to see that there is no clear difference between the APC and the PDP. PDP has now mixed with APC while APC also mixed with PDP, and they continue to play upon the intelligence of the people they govern. When should Nigerians expect good governance? Why has the government failed to stabilize electricity in Nigeria since 1960? Why is it that the past and present governments of Nigeria have found it difficult to protect the future of its citizens and why are the same people still ruling today in Nigeria? Buhari ruled the country under the military era between December 31, 1983 and 1985, and ended up presenting himself as a democratic politician who became the president of the country again. Is this all we have to offer? Do we not have conscientious leaders who care for the good of our nation? Are we cursed?
Let me quickly ask Mr. Buhari how far he has gone with the 40,000 MW electricity generation he promised during electioneering campaigns in 2015. The president should be reminded that Nigerians are still waiting for this to become a reality. How about making the naira equal to the dollar? On security challenges, while Buhari focuses on curbing the Boko Haram insurgency, Fulani herdsmen have taken over the country, terrorizing farming communities across the nation. Fulani herdsmen are now killing faster than members of Boko Haram, and nothing is being done to checkmate their activities.
President Buhari promised the creation of 1 million new jobs annually during 2015 election campaigns. While Nigerians wait for him to fulfill this promise, those who had jobs are being fired on a daily basis as some companies are laying off staff due to the harsh economy. Under this government, more than 40% of private companies in Nigeria have folded up as a result of the current recession that never existed during the last administration. Can we still expect "Manna" to fall from heaven with these failed promises?
Nigerian political leaders should remember one of the quotes of an American author and journalist, Anna Quindlen, who says, “Look back, to slavery, to suffrage, to integration and one thing is clear. Fashions in bigotry come and go. The right thing lasts.”
