On Buhari’s 100 days

After sixteen years of a civilian dictatorship which almost destroyed our nation I did not find it necessary to dwell on how President Buhari had performed in his first 100 days in office. Sixteen days were sufficient for me to re-affirm my conviction that we made the right choice. Even a sleeping President, provided his […]

After sixteen years of a civilian dictatorship which almost destroyed our nation I did not find it necessary to dwell on how President Buhari had performed in his first 100 days in office. Sixteen days were sufficient for me to re-affirm my conviction that we made the right choice. Even a sleeping President, provided his reputation instills the fear of God into our public officials, would do much better than the Jonathan Bunch. On auto-pilot, the nation would have fared better without that rapacious lot. To the common man, the question of the first 100 days was a non-issue.
Which is not to say that all the write-ups, assessing how PMB has performed since his swearing-in a few months ago, were mere wastes of time; not at all. They helped to remind us to thank God for helping us get rid of the PDP without the much anticipated chaos and bloodshed. All those with eyes to see, and heads to think with, can appreciate the relative peace, the improvements in fuel and electricity supply, the tremendous successes being recorded in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast, and greater respect for due-process, probity as well as law and order.
Most observers probably noticed the relative lack of interest of the average man on the street regarding any listing of “concrete” achievements in these first 100 days. In this, Buhari read his people better than many. They were more interested in bringing pervasive corruption to an end and punishing the corrupt, along with an end to insecurity. Infrastructure and socioeconomic changes take time, but they at least expect to see a start in putting an end to the mess we were already in. The general consensus is that he has started very well. Everyone is still in shock from all the revelations regarding the extent of the looting that took place. Even then, most believe that the looters will get a fair trial. Not surprisingly, even those who contemplated taking the advice of Dauda Kahutu (aka: RA-RA-RA), the APC singer who contributed in no small way to its victory, that “in ka san kai sata, ka gudu” (if you know you have looted the country, you better run away), decided not to flee, putting their trust in PMB’s stated commitment to the rule of law and fair trial. Some, however, have decided to fight back and protect their loot, but that is a topic for another day.
And while we are on this subject, I find Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s and my brother Garba Shehu’s valiant attempt to wriggle out of the APC document listing what it would do in its First 100 Days in office least convincing. There was such a document, though it was not part of what Buhari himself promised and though I am not sure it played any part in APC’s victory at the polls, it should have been addressed properly. It was premature to commit a party to any set of program or projects before the full extent of the mess the PDP was bequeathing to the nation become apparent. There was no perfect exit but by the time it became clear that the states could not even pay salaries and wages that would have been the appropriate time to disown the document, even if the opposition may cry foul, not after the expiration of the deadline. Owning up when you are caught is still an honourable option, and the APC (or some officials within it) really should not have committed itself to something it was not sure it could do.
With a small team of advisers, and a carefully selected set of operatives the President has indeed achieve a lot, and we expect even more  once he gets a cabinet, which he has promised to announce in the next couple of days. Undoubtedly he is fully aware that our Constitution does not envisage a one-man-show, no matter how well intentioned. It is also beyond doubt that he will give his ministers a comprehensive list of “dos” and “don’ts” making the job attractive only to the well-intentioned. As we await PMB’s cabinet, however, we must remain vigilant. Democratic changes arise, not as gifts, but as a result of citizens’ involvement and activism. We must all make sure our voices continue to be heard, and not just at election times, even as we back a truly well-intentioned PMB, the various governors and other elected representatives. Every new minister must set up a listening channel, so that at the very least our voices get heard.
… His Excellency, the Godfather
And talking of RA-RA-RA reminds me of the first time I saw him and the dilemma he found himself. I was passing through Radda, a small town but lively town in Katsina State so as to avoid Charanchi’s market day traffic, when I learnt they were honouring a brother, Dikko Umar Radda, on his appointment as the Chief of Staff to Governor Aminu Masari. It was a very impressive reception with Masari himself sitting right there on the high table, the Deputy Governor, and other elected dignitaries and government officials in attendance along with the representatives of the Emir of Katsina and that of Daura, as well as friends and well-wishers from all over the country. His District Head, the towns Chief Imam, his former class-mates, and even the town’s football team were all there along with several traditional musicians to grace the occasion. I was so thrilled when I heard the announcement that RA-RA-RA was also present. I was looking forward not only to see one of my favourite Hausa singers but also at the prospect of seeing him perform “live”.
In the end I was disappointed. Though everything went well, RA-RA-RA was clearly not in his element. Not just because he had less than two minutes to perform but because of the obvious contradictions staring us all in the face. Known all over Hausaland for his signature tune calling on the corrupt to run away (Masu gudu su gudu) before Buhari catches up with them, the song sounded hollow, and almost an insult to our intelligence, because Masari was sitting right there with too many who, even if they won’t run away, should at least find other occupations.
But that was not even the worst of it. All the MCs, and even the Governor himself seem oblivious of anything called “protocol” as they keep giving precedence to a businessman, said to be the Godfather, before they mention the Deputy Governor. It appears that Katsina has an office between the Governor and the Deputy. The Governor kept praising the chap, calling him GOC or Sarkin Yaki. Masari’s speech also focused too much on his investigations of former Governor Ibrahim Shema. I wished someone would tell him to focus more on fixing the manpower problems of the state, as well as unemployment, casualization and low wages. Shema built structures, probably at many times their actual costs, as Masari kept saying in his speech. But the campaigns are over, and we were expecting more focus on the future, even as he continues to recover any funds that might have gone “missing”. I was shocked, for example, to learn that Shema used to give the largest hospital in the state, The General Hospital, a paltry N500,000 per months for “overheads”, which they have to expend on 150 casual workers (cleaners, security-men, and the like) paying them N4,000.00 (yes, four thousand Naira) a month as wages, which even NLC and NULGE decide not to challenge. Imagine a family living on N4,000.00  a month? Correcting the mess in Katsina should be more important than rehabilitating those who themselves know they must change their ways or else run away. But then, as they say “which one be my own?” Katsina people are tough enough and astute enough to cope with these anomalies. This is very friendly fire: the PDP may soon bring out its heavy artillery, Mr. Governor, if you can’t get least your protocol right. As RA-RA-RA keeps saying, “muna cikin tafiyar APC, ba za mu barta ta watse ba, ba za mu barta ta watse ba!” (we are in this APC journey, we won’t allow it to scatter!).