The relief in Buhari’s return
On the day President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Nigeria from his successful medical trip in London, thronging crowds in the many parts of the country expressed their ecstasy and rapturous delight. We all witnessed this over the media. Here in Maiduguri in particular, people, especially youths, glutted our streets felicitating and congratulating one other. In some […]
On the day President Muhammadu Buhari arrived Nigeria from his successful medical trip in London, thronging crowds in the many parts of the country expressed their ecstasy and rapturous delight. We all witnessed this over the media.
Here in Maiduguri in particular, people, especially youths, glutted our streets felicitating and congratulating one other. In some areas, they mounted musical instruments dancing. This is in addition to the prayers and supplications in mosques and churches that took place during his absence from the country, a clear evidence of his acceptability from across the divides.
This overwhelming love implies that Nigerians appreciate the effort and diligence of PMB and his government to reposition the country.
President Buhari is an enigma, the wise men say there is always an exceptional leader for any generation, nobody will contest the fact that Buhari is the one for this generation. We will continue to pray for his improved health and wisdom for our betterment and that of future generations. PMB deserves to be celebrated because his achievements are crystal clear except for those who do not want to see them for reasons best known to them. His purposeful developmental programmes are attested to by all and sundry, including Nigeria’s foreign allies. Many have mentioned and enumerated the accomplishment of the President since he came to power, and it is not out of place to mention a few of them in reminiscence, because it is always pleasing to be associated with good things. The general improvement in our security architecture is legendary, we in the North East would live to remember how God, in His mercy, used President Buhari to degrade Boko Haram. Though they are endlessly working hard to stage a comeback, I am sure they will be crushed for good in the foreseeable future.
Kidnapping is on the decrease as evident in the way travellers now move freely along the Abuja-Kaduna road which was hitherto a death trap. The situation is the same in the South East and South South where scores of kidnappers have been arrested. This alone is worth celebrating because no meaningful development can be attained in an atmosphere of insecurity and fear.
Many politicians who squandered and embezzled our funds are behind bars, it is like a day of reckoning for them because law enforcement agencies are for the first time doing what they are meant to do. Malfeasance in public service is on the verge of extinction. We therefore thank the Almighty for the gift of President Buhari.
Agriculture is booming with people now back to their farms. Nigeria has regained her reputation abroad, a clear departure from the past when the ineptitude and maladroit of her rulers made her the laughing stock among the comity of nations.
It is so gratifying that our military is now well equipped, another plus from what obtained in the past when money meant for procurement of weapons was grafted.
It is therefore necessary to draw the attention of Nigerians on the need to put the interest of our country first before our personal ego and we can do so by coalescing into one big force. Hate speech will not take us anywhere, Nigeria is a great country and her sons and daughters could make it better.
I wonder, while the world today is tilting towards unity and cooperation and integration, here in Nigeria, we are inclining towards secession and break up. Please let countries like South Sudan, Burundi, Somalia, Taiwan and so on serve as lessons. Civil war entails nothing but mischance and disaster. To whatever end it will go, it will not yield any gain to both parties. Eventually after losing many lives, the warriors will end up on a round table for negotiation. I advise Nnamdi Kanu to listen to the wise counsel of his elders and rescind from his dream of creating a country out of Nigeria. What one cannot get in unity, he cannot get in disunity. We should not allow our thinking to be guided by our selfishness and egocentrism, we should not be those who have little or no regard for belief, interest or attitude other than their own. I have no iota of doubt that if Kanu thinks over and over, he would find out that killing of innocent people as happened before would not solve the problem. He should know that some of those who are instigating him now will run away if things became worse, and those who are now living outside will not come back.
Igbos are bonafide Nigerians like any other person. Those who live in the North are northerners and vice versa. Nigeria is a house with one family and every member of this family has the right to go to any part of the house. No one will eject Ibgos from the North. The threat proclaimed or declared by the northern youths was an empty one. They did so in order to scare the secessionists, and after all, they have withdrawn the threat. Northerners are very friendly. All Igbos who now live in the North know this very well. One of my best friends here in Maiduguri is an Igbo man. We are family friends. Our children are friends. They visit one another in our houses. They also attended the same primary school and attended the University of Maiduguri. They know nothing about Biafra. No irritation or disgust. Then if so why are we trying to implant hatred and division among the young ones? Why are we trying to interrupt such peaceful co-existence? Please, let Mr. Kanu listen to what the former Military Administrator of Delta State, Air Commodore Luke C. Ochulor, said: “Kanu should go and read enough of History before embarking on his crusade.”
According to the Daily Trust newspaper, Ochulor fought on the side of Biafra during the civil war. All should bear in mind that what peace cannot give, violence can never offer it. If Chief Odumegu Ojukwu were to be alive today, I am sure he would denounce Kanu’s unpatriotic action. I can vividly recall what Chief Ojukwu once said: “We Nigerians are now like passengers in a ship or vessel trying to sail. Therefore we all should unite together and sail safely or we fight and sink together”.
What one should deduce from this statement is that we Nigerians should unite and work for our country to develop or we disunite and fall apart and that will be our end. By and large, life and death are in the hands of Almighty Allah. No one can determine them for himself or for anyone else. Mr. President is now back and ready to continue with his job of extricating this country from the entanglement and the cobweb we found ourselves. We Nigerians should give him our full support and cooperation. His incorruptibility and sincerity are worth our support. Buhari’s speech of August 21, 2017 is apt because it summarizes the answer for all agitations and fears.
My compatriots let us desist and abstain from hate speeches. I concur with Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo when he said henceforth, hate speeches would be considered as an act of terrorism. In the same vein, I also thank the vice president for his loyalty and trust. Indeed, there is big relief in Buhari’s return.
Prof. Nguru is the Chief Executive of Nigeria Arabic Village, Ngala, Borno State.