I BELONG TO EVERBODY AND I BELONG TO NOBODY

 

How time flies! On a similar day, May 29 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn-in as the elected president of Nigeria. The first elected president to defeat an incumbent and certainly a glorious day in the history of democracy of our country. Good will pours in from all corners of the globe for defeating the prophets of doom prediction of Nigeria disintegrating come 2015. The sigh of relief was from all and sundry, whether haters or lovers of the president. The masses in particular were over joyous as for the better part of three decades, had been dreaming, hoping, campaigning and voting for Buhari’s comeback which was made possible only at the fourth attempt.

Buhari’s inaugural speech was one of the greatest speeches to have come out of Africa in modern times, especially the beautiful phrase “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” which was compared to great speeches like Kennedy’s “Think of what you can do for your country not what your country can do for you”. The statement confirmed to millions of Nigerians that it is the same old Buhari they knew, who they believed if given the chance will certainly curb the ugly face of official corruption that bedeviled the country. I believed on that day, millions of Nigerians like myself, slept in slumber of assurance despite the fact that we were facing the greatest insecurity challenge, insufficient power supply and economic recession. The Northeast was devastated and the northern region had become a war theatre with faceless enemies that sporadically trigger bombs that kill and maim indiscriminately in churches, mosques, markets and stations.

The first thing that Buhari did in assumption of office was ordering the military command center to relocate to the Northeast and face squarely the Boko Haram insurgents and it worked effectively, as in months the bombs felt silent for the first time in a long while. Power generation surged and electricity in some areas is on average of 15 hours a day. The Treasury Single Account (TSA), a brainchild of Jonathan administration, was finally implemented and leakages were permanently stopped from many loopholes. He adamantly refused to heed the voices of economic experts no less than Legarde’s (World Bank CEO), Sanusi and Soludo’s (Former CBN Governors) to devaluate the Naira and instead started an economic experiments unheard of in economic circles, which miraculously saved the Naira from free-fall. The economic policy, devoid of an economic team eventually helps navigate the turbulent economy out of recession.

As things began to improve for the better, wham! Nigerians learnt of the emergency evacuation of the president to a clinic in UK as he was apparently poisoned through the air-conditioning system in the villa. A moment of Deja’vu reminiscent of the Yar Adua times is being replayed again. The psyche of the country has never been battered as such to the extent that some even openly questioned God’s logic in allowing the right leaders’ dreams and drive for being short-lived. The only good thing Nigerians mastered is prayer and like always they plunged back into it in mosques and churches, urging, pleading and begging God to spare the old man. The lord, as always, answered their outpouring and saved Buhari from the grip of death after a long and tortuous 3 months.

The man came back and in no time addresses the legislature for two long hours, a physical demonstration to remove any lingering doubt that the man could continue his duties. Opponents and wailers were devastated as the man has never look healthier or stronger, thus they resort to insinuation that it was a look-a-like of Buhari impersonating him, the Jibril from Sudan.

My expectations when Buhari got back healthier, considering he had been whiskers away from the nether world, would have shook off the Go-slow garment and face the challenges of corruption head-on. Unfortunately he didn’t see it that way as he continues with his sluggish attitude towards corruption and the corrupt. He was taken abroad at the heat of the Babachir corruption case which was under investigation by the Vice President’s committee that found him wanting but it took too long to remove him from office let alone charge him to court. The case is now taking the snail-pace process in the judiciary. I know some die hard Buharist’s that believed he never does wrong would jump at this juncture with excuses that it is not his fault but the judiciary. Let me remind them of other cases, for example Professor Usman, who is flagrantly being victimized. The man had left his cozy job, easy life and respectful atmosphere in America and assumed the leadership of NHIS and within months had transformed it, unveiling an ambitious plan to revolutionize the system to reach out to tens of millions of Nigerians instead of the paltry few millions that now enjoys it. He uncovered the brazen corruption involving the HMO’s that siphoned millions and subject beneficiaries of untold hardship by refusal to pay hospitals monies as at when due. As he started fighting the HMO’s, who were mostly companies by big officials in the ministry, the corrupt started fighting back and instead of Buhari to stand by the man he bowed to pressure and suspends him.

In Buhari’s first year we saw how Sule Lamido and his son were remanded in Kano and Kuje prisons but for three years now it is as if the case has been discharged, absolutely nothing is being said about it anymore. Ibrahim Shekarau and Aminu Wali were arraigned but since Shekarau has crossed-carpet to APC it is as if the case was acquitted too. Danjuma Goje case is unheard of, even the most vocal of opposition in the person of Fani Kayode and Oliseh Metu’s cases are being unnecessarily dragged. The only high profile conviction we get was Joshua Dariye’s and Jolly Nyame’s, and it is ony because the cases had been running in the courts since 2011. It is clear the judicial system is wanting but don’t forget the same president that is saying he will not muscles anyone, is the one that is flagrantly disobeying court orders to release Dasuki, perhaps because he has a stone to grind with him? Or the Sheikh Zakzaky case?

The famous Buhari quote “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” if examined in contrast to his actions and body language in the last four years, could read something like “I don’t belong to everybody and I belong to some people”. A classical example is Ganduje’s case. Buhari had spent the better part of half a century building his refutation on anti-corruption and integrity but in a space of months throw it all away by staunchly backing Ganduje on corruption and electoral fraud. Buhari had never for once condemned the Gandollar videos but his first public response, in a faraway France, had to extol Ganduje for building two bridges in metropolitan Kano. During a nationwide televised interview with Kadaria, he went extra length in defending Ganduje by attacking the authenticity of the videos.

I don’t believe in modern democracy for the last hundred years anyone had benefitted from free and fair election like Buhari anywhere in the world. He had contested three times and failed but in the last attempt, due to the magnanimity and selflessness of Jonathan he clinched the presidency. In Buhari’s words “I hope the act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing President (Jonathan) will become the standard of political conduct in the country” but unfortunately Buhari helped Ganduje to sacrifice the standard by vandalizing elections and colluding with INEC to render it inconclusive and eventually stolen through thuggery and violence. We have seen how Buhari without mincing words ordered security to shoot on sight anyone that steal ballot boxes during the presidential elections and that command had made the 2019 presidential elections one of the most peaceful, freest and fair in our democracy. Yet as he belonged to APC and Ganduje he decided to let their hawks thwart the voices of Kano people despite their loyalty to him for 20 years. Did Buhari ever comment on the Kano elections?

In the past I have responded to Aisha Buhari’s criticism of her husband, in thinking she was angry because her husband had scrapped the First Lady office and refused to allow her be as influential in Government as she used to be during the PTF days. Careful scrutiny and reflection had forced me to reconsider Aisha’s reasons for lashing at her husband.

As we enter the next level, kidnapping and banditry has taken new dimension threatening the northwest especially Buhari’s home state. Kaduja-Abuja highway is now being avoided especially by elites that can afford air tickets. The middle class resort to driving to railway station and board the passenger train, which enjoys the escort of a helicopter gunship. The most important highway in the north, the artery joining the North and southern part of the country is not secured to travel along. We can all recall during the Nnamdi Azikwe airport upgrade, the same highway was secured for several months without a report of a chicken being taken away. Why is Buhari’s attitude towards the security of his region being lackadaisical?

What happened today at Eagle square, unprecedented in history, is a tacit admission by Buhari himself that he has failed the country. His refusal to address the nation is an exhibition of his Fulani culture, a true Fulani man doesn’t look you in the eye and lie, it is against his culture and upbringing unless he is perverse. Buhari had said in 2015 “I would not have kept my own trust with Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch” And abused they did, so what could he tell us today? Unless of course you want him to lie that he had not failed us.

Finally, Baba you must realize we have never had a leader whom we trust like you, you are the only one we poured on the street to get a glimpse of, the only one that increase petroleum prices and we never went on strike. We prayed for you like we prayed for our children and parents, despite your seeming failure we still decide to trust you for another four years. And for our generation we will never ever again have someone that can enjoy the same goodwill as you did and still do. If you are wise, then know that you too, can sacrifice your life to make this country great, if not, then you woefully failed here on earth and I don’t think God will look at you favorably in the next world.