Retracing the lost road to change

Truth is – it is never too late to change Change itself. From all indications, the party in power was too concerned with wrestling power to think about what to do with it. Now that it has its grip on power, its challenge is what to do with it. It is the colourful token in […]

Truth is – it is never too late to change Change itself. From all indications, the party in power was too concerned with wrestling power to think about what to do with it. Now that it has its grip on power, its challenge is what to do with it. It is the colourful token in which Change is wrapped that distinguishes it from the elusive fresh air. For instance, a Sai Baba on the queue either at Heathrow or MMIA airport was a good poster shot, especially while carrying his own bag. It instilled hope that the president-to-be would compare to David Cameron or Barack Obama who also carry their own bags and umbrellas. If a president carries his own bag, his minister would not have the temerity to turn a security detail into a shoeshine boy. An earthquake would not occur if the President carried his personal effects.
A nation that hopes to manufacture pencils for museums in 2018 should have no pride in keeping eleven serviceable jets or a presidential fleet. To massage our ego as the sleeping giant of Africa, let’s keep one, and get experienced pilots in the Airforce to fly the President on relevant trips. This paves the way for his inexperienced foreign ministers to garner the needed experience. Travelling on commercial jets has not returned the prefix ‘Great’ to Britain, it did not stop it from winning the Falklands war nor has it removed the honour and respect accorded the Queen as Head of Government and the Commonwealth and Dauda Kamoru as prime minister. Both leaders hang their pride on British Airways something that would look good on Sai Baba’s austere profile.
When Sai Baba announced that he is to be addressed as President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB and not General Muhammadu Buhari, GMB it did not devalue the rank of General that he earned in a nation where dishonorable citizens buy titles and degrees to shore up their emptiness. It would appear that he was making a clear distinction between the dictator of 1983 and the democrat of 2015. But why is he advertising the uniform of brutality all over the world with his uniformed ADC standing behind him like an erect pole? This arcane military vestige has been exorcised from the paraphernalia of governance since Yahya Jammeh took the last available title. Why is Naija still keeping an arcane practice? See why common cadets found pleasure in assaulting civilians for commending her beauty. An ADC looks smarter in suit or kaftan because if uniforms guaranteed security, Murtala Muhammed and Ibrahim Taiwo would not have died 40 years ago with their ADCs.
Convoys are an essential part of governance in most parts of the world. It was not until a demented terrorist shot his way to the Canadian Parliament last year that people knew that Stephen Harper had one – three black cars. A quaternion of Mopol would not have saved Sai Baba’s life when suspected Boko Haram assailants pumped bullets into his armoured car a few years back in Kaduna, but Alhamdullillah, Allah did. A giant in the limbo should not always insist on leading, it should learn from those who reduce carbon emissions by taking bike lessons from Ojo Maduekwe instead of helicoptering from the Villa to the Airport on every junket.
Mr. President is known for his Spartan lifestyle – announcing cuts in his and his deputy’s jumbo salaries. Surprising how the devil smuggled in those embarrassing figures for feeding and entertainment in this year’s budget? Certainly we could reduce that and other bourgeois subheads that have turned this change into the reverse side of the old coin. We were looking forward to a revolutionary system in which we pay the president while he takes care of his own feeding. After all, the minimum wage of N18,000 was supposed to feed its earner – take care of his rent, transport him to work and take care of his one official wife and four official children while paying for anti-malaria pills and school fees too. If it is good for the worker, it should be good for a general who already draws a fairly good pension or a deputy with nearly one million in liquid US dollars and children who are over 18.
If Sai Baba is looking for a living description of Spartan, let Femi Adeshina or Garba Shehu Google Jose Mujica’s Wikipedia entry for his perusal. At 70, this president does not need the perks that earned his predecessor the unenviable title of the ineffectual buffoon – he should hunger for the title of returned liberator. He can do so leading by example, as the saying – if you want something done right, do it yourself! He should set unbeatable governance records. True change demystifies governance, removing the magnet that pulls towards goatification. We have armed the enemies of change with the ammunition to say where is your change? We have gone far on the wrong road; but it’s not too late or too far to turn back!
…to be continued.