What Buhari should do before forming new cabinet

Nigerian politics is all about rewarding those that help you through. People that work for your success are those to be rewarded so that they too can extend the dividends down to the grassroots. People have been supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s political aspirations since 2002 when he join politics with the hope that if he […]

Nigerian politics is all about rewarding those that help you through. People that work for your success are those to be rewarded so that they too can extend the dividends down to the grassroots.

People have been supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s political aspirations since 2002 when he join politics with the hope that if he wins and clinch on the mantle of leadership he will transform Nigeria and bring back her lost glory. Most of them that engaged themselves into Buhariyya politics are doing it for God’s sake and to help Buhari to achieve success so as to fight corruption and indiscipline in the system.

In all the 36 states in Nigeria Buhari has competent supporters known to him and some are not well known to him due to their political visibility but the society knew them and also know that they are Buhari’s ilk. These people are willing to serve even as messengers in Buhari’s government so as to contribute their quota but unfortunately they are sidelined. Sometime ago, the president’s wife, Aisha Buhari, complained in an interview with BBC Hausa that her husband has ignored those who laboured for him and he is surrounded by a cabal. Most of those who worked hard as foot soldiers for Buhari are left out in ministerial appointments.

This tenure has already come to an end and a lot of mistakes have been done by the president in selecting his cabinet and other political appointments. Almost those close to the President did not help him in solving his political debt to his real foot soldiers, this brings a lot of problems and set back for APC at state and federal levels.

What I observed with Buhari is that he doesn’t see this as a problem, but he should thank God that he has natural love and support from majority of Nigerians. Now that he is about to form a new cabinet that will work with him to fulfill his promises, it is also good for him to also look back and pick those that are competent among his foot soldiers so that they will continue with his good legacies after leaving office. They will also help him now to achieve his goals and deliver the next level.

My fear is that if President Buhari did not take those that share his ideals and philosophy, by 2023 some unpatriotic, unscrupulous people will take over and dismantle the good works ha has done. In less than a year, they will celebrate coming back of corruption and impunity.

Abdullahi Kabir, Abuja.