Should Buhari resign?

There have been persistent calls from various angles for President Muhammadu Buhari to resign due to the deteriorating insecurity bedevilling the country. The first group to ask for president Buhari’s resignation was the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), followed by other social cultural groups. President Muhammadu Buhari is serving his second and final term in office […]

There have been persistent calls from various angles for President Muhammadu Buhari to resign due to the deteriorating insecurity bedevilling the country. The first group to ask for president Buhari’s resignation was the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), followed by other social cultural groups.

President Muhammadu Buhari is serving his second and final term in office after he secured victory in 2019 general election. In 2015, when President Buhari and his party (APC) camapaigned for votes while the country was grappling with a myriad of security and economic challenges, their campaign promises were premised on securing the country, fighting corruption and fixing the economy.

The enthusiasm and expectations that greeted his victory among Nigerians were high. Although, it took him six months to constitute his cabinet, Nigerians had confidence that Buhari’s administration would be the best thing to happen in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.

To the satisfaction of Nigerians, the war against Boko Haram insurgents improved significantly. The bombing of places of worships, markets and motor parks were contained and drastically reduced. The people of North East who were held hostage by the dreaded Boko Haram heaved a sigh of relief as the group who frequently attacked and killed defenceless people were pushed back and their operation limited to soft targets.

Our battared economy appreciated before it was hit by the third quarter of 2016 recession. Nowithstanding, the government through its social investment programmes such as: N-power, Tradermoni and school feeding, stimulated the economic growth and development. The war against corruption took an impressive turn with many corrupt people arrested and their illegally acquired assets recovered or seized. At least, Buhari’s first tenure deserves a pat on its back for delivering its campaign promises.

However, Buhari’s second term looks different from his first. The president who enjoys unalloyed and popular support seems to have lost it. His popularity has continued to wane and decline on daily basis. Many Nigerians who thought he would be the Messiah have given up. His die-hard supporters have started expressing anger and frustration with the way he is piloting the affairs of the country. This cannot be unconnected with the rising cases of insecurity, poverty and hunger in the country with the government looking helpless. The North which gave Buhari the highest votes both in 2015 and 2019 election is bleeding. Bandits and kidnappers have overrun the region. The recent massacre of over 43 rice farmers in Zabarmari has proven that, the war against Boko Haram insurgents is not yet over.

What Nigerians keep hearing from Mr President is that, he has given directives to the service chiefs to arrest the situation and do the needful. While Mr President has absolute confidence in his service chiefs to solve the country’s numerous security challenges, many Nigerians have passed a vote of no confidence on them due to the escalation of attacks under their watch.

The service chiefs are believed to have performed below expectations. They have overstayed and run out of ideas to provide adequate security to Nigerians. Unfortunately, the buck always stops on his desk. No Wonder, many security experts have advised Mr President to sack them and appoint new ones. These calls have fallen on deaf ears.

Coming back to the question on whether President Buhari should resign or not, amidst insecurity challenges confronting the country, the answer is at his discretion. Constitutionally, President Buhari was elected into office in 2019 to serve for another four  years. Unless and until he is proven incapacitated as a result of terminal illness which creates a  leadership vacuum, he would not be forced to resign. If he also commits an impeachable offense, the National Assembly can impeach him. However, President Buhari is neither terminally ill nor has he committed any impeachable offense to warrant his impeachment or resignation.

He is being accused of gross incompetence or showing lackluster attitude when the country is bleeding. Instead of calling for his head, which I doubt will solve the country’s problems, Mr President’s appointees should save his neck. Let them tell him that Nigerians are suffering with insecurity spreading like wild fire.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua writes from Kaduna State