Graffiti… Cautious president, transgressing congress and citizens on steroids

By Oluyinka Adediji…

It was not only gratifying, but reassuring when President Muhammadu Buhari ostentatiously declared that change has come in his post-election acceptance speech. A lot of Nigerians, including political critics and pundits invest so much in the depth and dimension of the change that came on March 28th 2015. It was an unprecedented change indeed, when an incumbent civilian president lost power through the ballot in our enigmatic Nigeria. Unprecedented, simply because we had accepted perversion as the norm. There we must celebrate the fact that an election was won and the loser conceded. It was enough to celebrate and pat ourselves – the people in the back.

The events unfolding in the first two weeks of PMB /APC government undoubtedly have led many people to rethink the change. I, as an individual cannot at this stage conclusively view these events in negative terms for the president, APC or the Nigerian people. No, not yet. The president has said from the outright that he would not interfere with the operations of the legislative arm of the federal Government. This statement and posture, no doubt has lead to the emergence of the kind of leadership in the senate and the house that the APC did not wish for. While this seems bad for the president, actually it is a good thing for our nascent democracy. For democracy to survive, we must have a truly independent legislative arm of the Government. Hopefully, this would be a lasting departure from tradition of impunity of the past regimes.

The apparent inaction in the war against corruption is another area of perceived weakness in an administration that is less than two weeks old. Some critics have called for a bold sweeping move against the alleged perpetrators of financial crime In Nigeria, especially those that served or closely connected with the immediate past president. In my opinion, this is one avenue where the president has to be very careful. Sixteen years of PDP rule, six years of Jonathan controlling the Nigerian institutions and an unprecedented decamping of many major players of the Peoples Democratic Party now wielding power and influence in the APC are obvious reasons while PMB has to thread softly. At the end of the day, for any proffered intervention, it is not how fast but how effective and fruitful that Nigerians truly care about. Even though our president has said that he belongs to no one and that nobody owns him, it is becoming a reality to him and his close advisers that the statement was easier said than done. The people that believe he belongs to them may not be willing to let him go easily. But again , time will tell.

Some critics are wondering while the president is yet to announce his appointed ministers. It was rumored that there is a lot of hand-wringing going on behind the scene making it difficult for emergence of nominees to the key cabinet positions. I have no way of confirming that this is the case but if we truly believe in democracy, any cabinet nominee must reflect the president campaign promise to sanitize the system. It is important to vet these nominees carefully and the candidates must be not only be qualified for the Job, but in addition must be detribalized Nigerians patriots who can truly deliver for the president and Nigerians in general. The senate must not rubber stamp the nominees but subject them to a thorough process of answering relevant questions, particular how they would tackle our most pressing national problems which are interrelated. i.e. insecurity, economic collapse and infrastructural decay.

Anyone expecting an overnight change would be disappointed and heart broken. What Nigeria has gone through since 1999 was a semblance of democracy; at least we can say that the threat of military coup is no longer an issue but the constant threat to any democracy remains which is the power of the interest groups. Lest we forget, this is Buhari’s second coming into the highest hierarchy of Government in Nigeria. The Nigerian political and economic atmosphere in December 1983 was similar to what we are witnessing today.

Then, our principal was a military dictator answering to no one other that his military trusted allies. Despite his enormous power then, he was not able to prevent the demise of his tenure on August 27, 1985. It is common knowledge that Banbangida and Abacha’s personal ambition played a major role in that palace coup that toppled Buhari but the role played by civilian cabal was of equal significance.

Unknown to many whining civilians, individuals whose questionable means of wealth creation were threatened by Buhari’s socio-economic reforms hijacked and capitalized on the people’s sore sentiment and forcefully removed the game changer. It was that incident that continued to plague our politics even until this period. In any democratic government or nation, satisfying interest groups is part of the deal. In so far as doing so does not violate the constitution or weaken the government’s ability to deliver its obligations to the citizenry as a whole.

In the days ahead, when our president makes public his cabinet members and key advisors, Nigerians would have the opportunity to feel his genuine commitment to change. If it’s all business as usual, where personal interests and parochial agenda thumb the common good then people would have all the legitimacy to cry fouls. This time around we have to be patient, not to buy into rumors and fear mongering as those whose horses are gored begin to react.

It would serve the president well to learn how to use the presidency pulpit to his advantage. Our political parties are not clearly distinguished along any ideological principle which is understandable. No matter what you believe, Nigerians need security, economy that works for all, and enjoyment of basic amenities. My feeling is that people are prepared to make some sacrifices as an investment in our future. In doing so, they have to be sure that the person managing their goodwill capital is well prepared, highly motivated and determined to work for them. In trying to be fair to all, President Buhari must not be perceived as weak and easily influenced by the interest groups. Today, there are many of them hiding under the cloak of religion, ethno- regional politics, corporate greed and agents of foreign interests.

The president recently visited the neighboring countries of Niger and Chad for obvious and urgent reason of the Boko Haram warfare and Nigeria needs all the help it can get. He had Europe three times this year as a candidate, president elect and as a president, again for obvious reason – Nigeria needs a lot of understanding and support especially of the Western power houses.

Now what we need to see is deliberate engagement of the Nigerian masses just as it was before the election. It was the peoples awakening that enable his victory not the ingenuity of APC big wigs alone as some had alluded to. Anyone, interest groups or cabal threatening the emergence of a truly serving government must be exposed and taken to people’s court . Nigerians understand that two weeks is not enough to fully grasp the sword’s handle, but once grasped must be firmly controlled and wielded decisively.

I sincerely hope that this change in transition would eventually get us to the Promised Land where Nigeria would fulfill its promise to our people irrespective, their tribal, religious or socio –economic class.

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