The Buhari era begins

A record number of foreign dignitaries, especially African Heads of State and Government will show up in Abuja where hope is rising for a new government expected to help Nigeria pull its weight in the comity of nations. Buhari’s tough reputation for discipline and probity and his promise to fight hydra headed corruption, restore security […]

A record number of foreign dignitaries, especially African Heads of State and Government will show up in Abuja where hope is rising for a new government expected to help Nigeria pull its weight in the comity of nations. Buhari’s tough reputation for discipline and probity and his promise to fight hydra headed corruption, restore security and tackle massive unemployment have earned him Nigeria’s Presidency after three previous failed attempts. The euphoria that has engulfed the country on the eve of Buhari’s assumption of power is matched only by the expectations that followed political independence in 1960, and perhaps Obasanjo’s second coming in 1999.
All this week also, Buhari’s multitude of followers and admirers will descend on Abuja like flies on carcass to witness the long awaited inauguration of their hero. They will ride on buses, trailers, motorcycles, animals and just about anything that can carry them on the journey to the Nigerian capital city to be part of this dream of a new Nigeria.  They will be there in their thousands this Friday and will come mostly from Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Zamfara but also from Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Edo, Akwa Ibom states, etc, to see Muhammadu Buhari take the oath of office as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It’s doubtful if Eagle Square, the venue of the swearing in ceremony, can hold a mass number of spectators. The square is too small for this big, earthshaking democratic transition; it ought to sprawl between Shehu Shagari Road and Ahmadu Bello Road. The square ought to have a befitting fence, not the eyesore surrounding it. I’m surprised that FCT Minister, Bala Muhammed’s eye for last minute contracts to award didn’t notice the outdated Eagle Square fence, which ought to be modernised like that of the Millennium Park.
As it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end. The mantra of transformation repeated by outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan’s has finally come to ignominy. Nothing proves this than the embarrassing flurry of fuel shortage and complete collapse of electricity supply in the country in the final week of the Jonathan Presidency. Nigerians have lost count of the amount of money spent on importing petroleum products by a country awash with crude oil; or the huge amount expended on electricity supply.
Nigerians hope that the emergence of their country from the vice grip of the most rapacious, insensitive and callous civilian cabal and Buhari’s ascendency will open new economic opportunities, help tackle poverty and cut down on the scandalous level of unemployment in an economy touted as the largest on the continent.
Jonathan has developed the reputation of a do-nothing President on issues most important to his compatriots and is aptly called “the clueless.” Lately, he has been firing chief executives of federal agencies appointed by him and replacing them like fedora hats, to prove he is in charge till 29th May. Instead of squarely addressing the country’s perennial problems, Jonathan prefers to politick and is currently locked in a messy struggle for the soul of his crumbling political party. The outgoing President goes in and out of PDP meetings; he doesn’t understand that his party men will never allow him to control the party for the simple reason that he lacks the capacity. But in a show of wickedness rather than his advertised humility and love for the country, he has consistently ignored the disgraceful state of electricity and fuel supplies. A litre of petrol sells between N200 and N500 as if there’s no government in Nigeria again. Jonathan’s government couldn’t even achieve stagnation; they claimed to have inherited 2000mw electricity generation, now they are leaving behind 1,327mw with a warning that it could drop down further. How lousy could a government be? What further proof is there that this government has failed? Yet, they advise Buhari not to temper with their privatisation of the electricity sector. Transformed liars!
Buhari has to do something radically different. From day one, he must begin to build new refineries and new power plants, preferably hydro, to lessen the country’s dependence on the so called gas powered stations. If Buhari uses the next four years to eliminate electricity and fuel shortages alone, he will have laid the foundation for a prosperous and respectable country. More importantly, Buhari must punish all the outgoing criminals who pretended they were serving the country while thieving. If Diezani Alison-Madueke is proud of her services to Nigeria, she should be sitting down somewhere with Goodluck Jonathan instead of chasing Buhari all over the world for his listening ear.
The challenges are colossal, Nigeria is in the gutter; Buhari’s ministers and aides must meet targets; or quit. Buhari will have to retool and reset our democracy; he will assemble a crop of competent Nigerians to “efficiently manage” the country’s affairs. The new President will not tolerate greedy officials and will punish the corrupt.
It’s good bye to bigotry, nepotism, corruption, inferiority complex, scam, creek mentality and incompetence. Jonathan says he will spend the rest of his time talking to Muslims and Christians about peace; what peace? Who’ll listen to a dumb, awkward and artless speaker who doesn’t even understand his subject matter? Welcome to accountability, discipline, honesty and hard work, sincerity of purpose, love of country, competency and fear of God. Welcome to the Muhammadu Buhari era.