Who’s changing? Buhari or Nigeria?

By Edwin Edwin Okon . . .

October 14, 2014: “If my appreciation of the situation is correct, then no patriotic person will shy away from responsibility…… With the wealth of capable individuals in the party and the discipline and competence we can bring, we can make a radical change for the better to our country.” Buhari’s comment on why he considered to once again vie for presidency – Inspired!

January 1, 2015: “Are these things truly possible? Of course. That is the essence and outcome of leadership, and that is what my party and I promise you as we get into 2015.My dear friends, this New Year, more than ever before, I am hopeful about Nigeria.” – Buhari’s comment while presenting his five point agenda – Motivated!

April 4, 2015: “I made that promise and I hope Nigerians will give me the opportunity to see whether my effort will be good enough or not.” BBC interview on Buhari’s promise to fight corruption and unemployment. Resolute and confident!

July 31, 2015: “The major complaint, according to Biya, is that Jonathan never or seldom, at best, picked his calls. He said most times he called, Jonathan neither picked nor returned his calls. And as a result, the integration of efforts that should have stopped Boko Haram’s foray and unchallenged run was lacking.” – Buhari blaming Jonathan for the spread of Boko Haram after his trip to Cameroon.

November 17, 2015: “The inadequacy of the handover notes contributed in no small measure to the delay in constituting my cabinet, as I needed to have a clear idea of what my Administration was inheriting. Had a system been in place, real-time information would have been available to assist the incoming government to quickly settle down, form its cabinet and go about the business of governance.” – Buhari blaming Jonathan for his delay in constituting his cabinet at a speech in Abuja

February 5, 2016: ”I went through the devalue in 1984, its SAP that killed the naira.
“I have asked the Governor of Central Bank and others to sit and see if they can convince me to murder the naira.” BBC interview. Buhari blaming IBB’s SAP for depreciation of the Naira.

February 6, 2016: “With the problems we have in this government, I sometimes wonder. At least, this time around, I asked for it, I prayed for it, I went round the country and I asked for it. But the first time under the military, I allowed the military to take decision.But I say why me? Why is it that it is when they have spent all the money, when they made the country insecure that I returned? Why didn’t I come when the treasury was full? Oil price was over $140 per barrel and when I came, it slipped down to $30. Why me?” Buhari’s address to the Nigerian community in London.

Read also: How to Fight Corruption

Above are excerpts of some of President Buhari’s comments from his election campaign till date. Analyze his remarks so far and what you find is a man who inspired and motivated Nigerians to seek change to a President who blames and wails at every forum and public event. Nigeria is no easy country to govern when one takes into cognisance years of institutionalized corruption and mismanagement, ethnic unrests and poverty yet we do not need a leader who sees problems, condemns his predecessors and whines about his responsibilities.

Where is Buhari who promised to wipe out Boko Haram in 2 months? Where is Buhari who promised to strengthen the Naira? Where is Buhari who believed Nigeria must depart from being a hawker of foreign goods to one that produces her goods? Where is Buhari who cried because he trusted in the greatness of Nigeria? We need that man. Nigerians do not need an alarm of the problems and obstacles before us, we need solutions. We need answers.

President Buhari should accept the challenges he met in office and work on overcoming them. Yes, his return to office is not at a time of boom yet he must not pronounce doom. It is commendable that he has decided to embark on a 5 day vacation. I encourage him to use the period of leave to self-reflect and meditate on his race so far and the metres ahead. Nigerians believe he can. He should not show us he can’t.

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