There is so much tension in Nigeria currently. Political jobbers
have a meaningless job again, which is worsened by the tension amid the
avoidable speculative hype about President Muhammedu Buhari’s present state of
health. He fell ill and proceeded on medical treatment in London, where he
stayed for nearly two months. The President is back, but needs more time to
recover and only performs his official duties minimally.
As idle and
petty-minded as some Nigerians have chosen to become, the President’s illness
and recuperation have become the favorite past time by professional politicians.
In essence, there is entirely senseless and so much social media buzz about the
President’s health condition. It is also subject for roadside gossips and
excited power-seekers have perceived it as another opportunity to exercise
their ego and freak for perpetual presidential contests.
However, no matter how deeply concealed is the plot or campaign
against President Buhari over his health condition, Nigerians know the
permutations and calculations are geared towards who should lead Nigeria beyond
2019.
Many questions are being asked: Why is the power cabal and
bootlickers over interested in ousting President Buhari? Why are they so
concerned about his ailment or do they know the source of his sickness?
Nigerian masses are asking.
If every reason or interpretation about President Buhari is all
about how to scuttle his Presidency, the schemers may have embarked on a doomed
mission.
Nigerians are Africans and a people of the black heritage. They
have a rich cultural wisdom embedded in very stupefying proverbs, which often
steep in nuggets of worthy ideas. One such African adage says, “When a mighty
tree falls, the birds are scattered into the bush.”
For the masses of Nigeria, President Buhari is more than just a
President of Nigeria; but a leader of the Nigerian people at its most
degenerative time in history. Those who falsely wish him death or too gravely
incapacitated to continue in office are free to do so. But for the millions of
Nigerians who President Buhari has positively touched their lives in the last
two years are unprepared for the bad news the schemers are plotting and
spreading.
Nigerian masses are aware that the misfortune of the death or
incapacitation of Buhari would signify the literal death of every ordinary
Nigerian, who are in millions and with it, the hope of survival in a country so
messed up to the point, it has lost the wings to fly at any height or altitude.
Buhari is restoring the lost wings or the hope and the power mongers who are
hurt so badly, want him out of the way at all cost.
In figurative terms, President Buhari’s shadows alone have
perished the evil thoughts most demonic Nigerians nursed against their own
country for fear of the repercussions. His absence on the seat for whatever
reason, would cause the immediate regrouping of these locusts to again pillage
Nigeria. Nigerian masses are abreast with this reality and pray fervently that
President Buhari takes a straight eight years as constitutionally stipulated to
right the wrongs.
A few days ago, former interim APC national chairman, Chief Bisi
Akande observed something very sensitive about President Buhari while
commenting on the reaction of Nigerians and the need for caution over his
health condition.
An experienced elder statesman by every yardstick, he said when
he met President Buhari in December last year, he complained about his
stressful looks and according to him, the President’s reply denoted what is
known to every Nigerian. Akande said; “His reply connoted some allusions to
circumstances where an honest man fighting corruption is surrounded mostly by
unpatriotic, greedy ruling class. He felt painfully frustrated…I then knew that
corruption had effectively been fighting back. And I prayed for Nigeria.”
No nation on earth can progress or prosper when corruption becomes
endemic and widespread. When it is celebrated like it is done in Nigeria before
the ascension of President Buhari who in spite of the frustrations has halted
the trend and looted wealth is being recovered. There is psychological fear
among Nigerians with the mindset to loot because they are fully aware they will
certainly not go scot free with Buhari at the helm. There is an astonishing
level of public sanity that is gradually returning to Nigeria. Nigerians know
the era of impunity in public governance is eventually dissipating, courtesy of
President Buhari.
Nigeria’s image abroad has improved tremendously and
dramatically. Yet, this was a country former British Prime Minister, David
Cameron ridiculously referred to as “fantastically corrupt.” America’s
President Donald Trump may not be justified on his attacks on Nigerians
resident in the US and Mexican migrants. But he says the truth, when he drums
about Nigeria stealing their country blind in corruption and running to take
refuge in other countries which have fortified themselves about such debasing
scourge of nation-hood.
During reflections at a mass for the 200th anniversary of the
Gendarmeria or the Vatican Police Force, His Holiness, Pope Frances said,
“Corruption produces addiction, and it generates poverty, exploitation,
suffering. And how many victims there are in the world today?”
And painfully, those who exclusively pay for the corruption of
the ruling class; the rich; the wealthy or the politician are the poor in every
society. In Nigeria, media headlines have ceased celebrating other news items
since Buhari came on board. Every other day, the media is aghast with how a
former public officer has embezzled or stolen billions of naira or millions of
US Dollars.
No nation can fulfill its aspirations of being a great nation if
her citizens are allowed to freely steal, embezzle or loot the people’s
commonwealth. President Buhari has unleashed unprecedented venom against the
scourge of corruption and the impact is too visible to ignore. Those affected
are not only scared, but feel President Buhari must not continue. The looters
have stashed their loot in secret places. They neither have the liberty or
freeness to spend this loot. They are being fished out in piecemeal to face the
lawful consequences of their actions. Some of them are the gangs in power at
lower levels.
Nigerian masses whom Buhari is serving faithfully are aware of
his extra efforts to regain the pride and dignity of Nigeria. And majority of
the Nigerian people who control the votes know his eclipse from the theatre of
leadership would automatically terminate the regeneration process of Nigeria.
So, even on wheelchairs, President Buhari would get a second term in 2019. This
is the verdict of Nigerian masses.
Outside corruption, President Buhari has broken the seemingly
unbreakable jinx on insecurity which suffocated Nigeria all round for years.
Terrorism in Nigeria is now only a reference point; something that is confined
to the past and the entire world has acknowledged this feat. Nigerians savour
the peace prevalent in their country they dreaded six years back.
Other insurrectional rebels, secessionists and violent criminals
have taken leave under President Buhari because of his intolerance of such
criminal acts and the actions that ended the criminal siege on the country.
Nigerian masses have no second option to Buhari, but to stick with this popular
leader who identifies with the masses until fate decides otherwise.
Buhari has made so much impact in the polity and in several
sectors.The economy was in recession when he assumed office. With consistently
falling oil prices in the international market, Buhari has been able to
prudently manage the little resources at his disposal to inject life into the
economy. It is being diversified with federal government’s investment in
agriculture, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, and the boost to the
manufacturing industry via loans. The CBN, the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the
Bank of Agriculture (BOA) have all been mandated to see to the accomplishment
of the task.
The construction sector has been enlivened as old contractors
have been re-mobilized and new contracts have been awarded in both the
transport and the power sectors among others. Jobs are being created in the private
sector and the N-Power jobs have somewhat endeared Nigerians to him, hence it
has no political party or godfather, religion or ethnicity beneficiaries. They
are simply jobs for Nigerians. Anywhere, poor suffering masses are interested
about their future like Nigerians now, they would not want to gamble away a
President like Buhari. Its another stumbling block to conspiratorial architects
of President Buhari’s exit from office. And God Almighty will side the masses.
So, the economy is gradually freeing itself from recession.
Foreign reserves which netted zero US Dollar has risen to about $40 billion and
the business environment in Nigeria is becoming more friendlier. Besides,
disrupting the unofficial zoning formula of political offices in Nigeria would
delay an Igbo Presidency in 2015. The Southeasterners are no longer prepared
for a replay of the Jonathan episode under former President Umaru Yar’Adua and
all eyes/interests are wide awake.
No gainsaying, much as the political cabal plots President Buhari’s
ouster, the millions of Nigerian masses want him to exhaust his Constitutional
tenure. It is for the grandeur reasons of ending his reforms and completing the
mission of repositioning Nigeria; which would ensure progress/development,
political stability and harmony in the country that Buhari remains a choice for
2019, even on a wheelchair.
It is principally why President Buhari’s choice for 2019 sticks.
Around the world, including America, serving Presidents have been sick; but
they were never compelled to vacate office on account of the illness. They were
allowed to moderately work while they recuperated, as it is applicable to
President Buhari at the moment. The hype, the intrigues and the plots as
exemplified in the balloon over Buhari’s health condition is not the solution
to any region which intends to stealthily ascend to power.
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