Paraphrasing PMB

President Muhammadu Buhari speaks words worth etching on marble. He it was that made the statement that has remained indelible in hearts of Nigerians and all past leaders tended to paraphrase at every need to call or ginger Nigerians to arms of patriotism. “This generation of Nigerians and indeed all future generations have nowhere to […]

President Muhammadu Buhari speaks words worth etching on marble. He it was that made the statement that has remained indelible in hearts of Nigerians and all past leaders tended to paraphrase at every need to call or ginger Nigerians to arms of patriotism. “This generation of Nigerians and indeed all future generations have nowhere to go but Nigeria. We must therefore remain here and salvage it together”.
Today, over 30 years down the road, as a democratically elected head of state, Buhari has given the nation similar quotes for one to attest to the originality of that memorable 1983 one. In spite of the criticisms on the quality of the Inaugural Address, (criticisms I do not share), Nigerians have been provided once more, spoken words that rekindle hope, national pride, and enhance patriotic zeal.
His apt compliment to President Goodluck Jonathan:-
“I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With the support and cooperation he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a united people capable of doing what is right for our nation.”
This vintage compliment is one to cast on marble and adorn wherever President Goodluck Jonathan chooses as post-service home. More poignantly, the attestation that “Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing president will become the standard of political conduct in the country”. Such sweet words were quite like healing balm to a nation scarred by bitter political bickering through an election year – bickering that threatened the nation’s survival in a manner and intensity never witnessed before.
Then this loaded one liner – “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”. For me and I believe majority of Nigerians, this was a most profound statement that in less than 10 words, revealed the expected character of the domineering President Muhammadu Buhari. In President Goodluck Jonathan we found a trail blazer – a powerful incumbent President conceding to defeat and in President Muhammadu Buhari, we equally found a trail blazer an opposition aspirant winning in a Nigerian election. Aside his assertion to belong to nobody, Nigerians also now know that with oneness of mind, a leadership of their distate can be changed for one which for them, holds promise. This is significant and hence, President Buhari and indeed the All Progressives Congress (APC), truly have only a four year chance to impress and gain a second chance, or further distress the nation and get spat out.
I have pondered further on this strategic one-liner. Buhari did not use the word ‘but’. “…..and I belong to nobody”, he had said. There is a world of difference between ‘but’, and ‘and’ that Nigerians, most especially President Buhari’s associates would and should take time to reflect upon. “But I belong to nobody”, would have been definite and specific to the point of determining who Buhari did not belong to. “And I belong to nobody” to me says that you are that “everybody” to whom Buhari belongs, until your luggage of past deeds determine that you are no longer deserving of grace to be the “everybody”. And does Buhari have men with luggage! It is safe to be forewarned that Buhari will apply some plumbing on all “everybodies” and not quite a few will be out of line and hence, the “nobodies”.
President Buhari leaves us in no doubt as to what he thinks of the National Assembly and the Judiciary, our critical democratic tiers with whom power is shared with the Executive. It is no secret that the nation holds its breath on the life to come between the trio, and on the outcome is hinged the result of national hopes, aspirations, and expectations from the Buhari tenure ahead. “We shall charge them to apply themselves with integrity to stabilize the system”. Coming from President Buhari, this says more than a lot. This rings loud. “For their part the legislative arm must keep to their brief of making laws, carrying out over-sight functions and doing so expeditiously. The judicial system needs reform to cleanse itself from its immediate past. The country now expects the judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office. It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that government will be enabled to serve the country optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedevilling governance today”.
I think we are going to see a Buhari President asserting himself over states in spite of the clear separation of powers. “Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the Federal Government cannot interfere in the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country”. This to my mind is what has struck the definite cord that there will be attempts to curtail the absolutism that our Constitution gives to the powers of the various tiers, and thereby also curtail the consequent all pervading abuse of power and impunity.
Methinks if the President keeps above board and asserts his powers dispassionately and apolitically, he can succeed in all forays in the national interest. Conversely, abuse of the powers of the President through the misuse of the institutions such as EFCC and ICPC to subdue political opponents will not augur well and would be doggedly resisted.
Of all the points made by President Buhari, his definition of Boko Haram has instigated more intense debate than any other. Says Buhari, “Boko Haram is a mindless, godless group who are as far away from Islam as one can think of.” This is an iron cast definition of Boko Haram that no one can deny. That it came from the President should have been comforting for citizens, divided on religious lines on the perception of the country’s security challenges. A review of media and social media posturing on this important issue underlines President Buhari’s admonition of the Nigerian Media – “My appeal to the media today – and this includes the social media – is to exercise its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism”.
This appeal is fully in place. Media determines the nature of national discourse. It is the medium of expression for the country’s politically warring divides, and we must agree that in the last year of the Jonathan tenure, media showed the fullness of its potential, but more so its worst attributes. I do not see the need to go into details; I must note that the Buhari years must necessary witness a more responsible media that sees itself as a unifying agent regardless of its owners. It would be sad for the Buhari Presidency to find the need for the use of “attack dogs” that in the immediate past dispensation, appeared to be selling President Jonathan when in fact they were smearing him and promoting the emotions that caused his rejection and eventual loss.