Another un-inspiring Presidential Address

It’s clear that President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) wasn’t elected because of his eloquence or ability to inspire by his words. This was a shortcoming that was supposed to be taken care of by his speech writers. But alas they distinguish themselves only by continuously penning disappointing broadcasts. The 2018 New Year’s Day speech was much […]

It’s clear that President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) wasn’t elected because of his eloquence or ability to inspire by his words. This was a shortcoming that was supposed to be taken care of by his speech writers. But alas they distinguish themselves only by continuously penning disappointing broadcasts. The 2018 New Year’s Day speech was much of the same. Rather than empathise with Nigerians for the self-evident failures of the administration over the past year, the speech rather blamed Nigeria’s problems on everyone except those holding political office. Pointing the finger at others for their failings has become the stock in trade of this administration. In reference to the shameful petrol scarcity PMB claimed that “some of our compatriots chose to inflict severe hardship upon us”. Going further he said that the administration is “determined to get to the root of this collective blackmail of all Nigerians”. 

Quite frankly if after two years in office they still don’t know the root causes of the problems there is little likelihood that they will find them in 2018. Unsurprisingly PMB made no mention of the fact that he is the Minister for Petroleum Resources who should take direct responsibility for the fiasco. It’s really quite sad that Nigerians have to continue putting up with speeches which promise heaven and earth but are short on actual substance. Although notorious for failing to keep to its words, this administration really has no alternative other than to keep making more promises simply because they have no solid achievements to boast of. “Significant progress” in advancing road, rail and power projects across the nation was promised, as was the fact that the railway line “should” reach Ibadan by the end of 2019, and the commencement of the Kano – Kaduna segment “should” commence by the end of 2019. 

Without any completed project to boast of, the mere fact that “negotiations are also advanced for the construction of other railway lines” was announced as an achievement worth celebrating. The nation was informed that the Management of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has been reconstituted and charged with a 12-week rapid intervention in road repairs. This fire brigade approach is a recurring decimal. Last year FERMA officials claimed they didn’t receive their budgetary allocation, yet the speech gave no reason for this and the many other shambles of the 2017 budget.  There was no attempt to address the funding issue and explain to long suffering Nigerians exactly what is going on. 

Flying in the face of reality PMB claimed that “more Nigerians throughout the country are experiencing improved power supply in their homes”. This despite the majority of citizens welcoming the new year in power blackout and complete darkness because of no fuel to operate their generators! With respect to the economy PMB said that “the days of business as usual are numbered”. This is a tacit admission that they are not yet over. Revelations of massive corruption by officers close to the Presidency showed that “no more business as usual” is a commandment from which certain individuals are exempted. On the economic front experts agree that Nigeria has never had things so bad. Rather than reverse the steady and steep decline in the economy, this administration has exacerbated it.  Even as industries are closing down and unemployment is rising, the speechwriters included statements about phantom improvements in the manufacturing sector. 

PMB also said “we have to get used to discipline and direction in economic management”. Who exactly is “we”? Unnecessary spending and financial scandals in the budget of the Presidency are still rampant, tax-payer’s money is still being wasted on foreign medical trips and frivolous international travels, and government continues to operate its finances in an opaque manner. The appeal to enterprising young Nigerians with ideas not to just sit down and wait for employment is facetious. Many of them have lost their lives trying to cross the Sahara to seek a better future. Those who remain aren’t “sitting down”, rather they are engaged in armed robbery, 419, internet fraud, kidnapping and all sorts of illegal means of surviving because government has failed to create any enabling environment. 

PMB wrongly asserted that Great nations are built by enterprising people who turn their hands to anything that circumstances dictate. The truth is that Great nations are built by great leaders.  PMB’s speechwriters made him look further like an amateur political analyst when they included the phrase “my firm view is that our problems are more to do with processes than structure”. Their claim that we tried the Parliamentary system and jettisoned it is untrue. “We” didn’t jettison it. The truth is that a cabal of ill-disciplined young men in uniform who mistakenly thought they knew better, illegally and disastrously saddled us with a Presidential system and unworkable Constitution under which Nigerian has been unable to progress. Systems do take long to evolve as the speech asserted, but Parliamentary Democracy was given only six years, while the failed Presidential system is still driving the nation nowhere after 18 years.  

PMB’s timely plea that political discourse should be conducted with civility should have been directed towards his own press spokespersons who refer to opponents as “enemies of the state” or “unpatriotic citizens”. They never admit to being wrong, habitually rain abuses on critics, and never apologise to Nigerians for anything.  Perhaps the most disquieting part of the speech was that relating to Boko Haram. It beggared belief. PMB said “we have since beaten Boko Haram but isolated attacks still occur”. This simply doesn’t tally with the fact that the administration just asked for $1 Billion to fight the same enemy!  It gives credence to allegations by opposition spokespersons that the money is really meant for other purposes. The only conclusion that can possibly arise from the Presidential New Year Address 2018 is that Nigerians should continue to suffer in hope. Nothing has changed and nothing is about to change significantly in the near future.