Still on Buhari’s 100 days

Nigerians should not hold President Muhammadu Buhari to ransom because of the number of days (100) he has spent in office. We should not run after days, rather, let’s run after achievements, the number of days notwithstanding. The number of days should not form the yardstick for assessing the performance of a newly inaugurated government, […]

Nigerians should not hold President Muhammadu Buhari to ransom because of the number of days (100) he has spent in office. We should not run after days, rather, let’s run after achievements, the number of days notwithstanding. The number of days should not form the yardstick for assessing the performance of a newly inaugurated government, especially that of Buhari.  In any case, during the campaigns, the president did not make any promise concerning 100 days in office. So why crucify him?
Previous governments were known to have made several unfulfilled promises and the heavens did not fall. It is a known fact that President Buhari is a man of his words, so he will perform at the right time. Critics should give him the opportunity to deliver instead of distracting him.
Fellow compatriots, let us be honest; President Buhari has made a lot of achievements since he came to office. He has discovered a lot of fraudulent dealings in the system and people are now conscious of how they do government business. These are great achievements for the Nigerian masses and the country. What about the turnaround repair of refineries in the country? Petroleum products are now being sold across the country at government-approved prices. I traversed from Maiduguri to Kano, Kano to Daura, Daura to Kano, then to Gombe and back to Maiduguri, passing through villages and cities, the prices are the same. There was a time when the price of gas got up to N190 per litre in Maiduguri, but now it is sold in many filling stations at N125. There is also an improvement in electricity. It is crystal clear that security has also improved in the country. The people of the North-East can attest to this. Strategic towns like Gamboru, Dikwa and so on are now liberated from the hold of insurgents. Residents of Maiduguri are no more in perpetual fear of attacks. Boko Haram members are dislodged from many of their hideouts. We thank the Almighty Allah and hail our gallant soldiers. May the Almighty Allah be with them. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has truly become a national media organization, not only dancing to the tunes of the government of the day.  And there are more achievements we can see around us.
On the alleged lopsided appointments the president has so far made, let it be known that Buhari strongly believes in the unity of this country. As such, he will not do anything that will sow any seed of discord among the people and possibly divide the country. His government is not for northerners as people have insinuated. He puts the country first, not politicians looking for juicy appointments. So let’s give him our support.
The issue of federal character, as many have insisted, is a very good idea. I support it; but is it workable? Is it practicable? Surely it is not. It is only on paper. 
To buttress this point, let’s look at federal institutions across the country and you will find out that principal officers hardly come from different regions. They usually come from particular parts of the country. Is that federal character in practice?
I am calling on those who went to court because Buhari’s appointments to also consider previous appointments. For example, there was a time when the entire federal government financial architecture was controlled by Igbo-speaking men and women. Was the principle of federal character applied in such appointments? 
Finally, those who are using the recent appointments to vilify the president should remember that more appointments are coming. Let’s join hands to move this country forward.
Professor Muhammad Mu’azu Nguru, University of Maiduguri,  Borno State.