What Buhari would have done?

Not by force that I should worry my brains about whether or not Nigeria gets on and becomes a better country.  I wonder many times, why I throw myself into the fray.  It is certainly not for money or power, but because of a certain inability I have, to be part of failure.  Since I […]

Not by force that I should worry my brains about whether or not Nigeria gets on and becomes a better country.  I wonder many times, why I throw myself into the fray.  It is certainly not for money or power, but because of a certain inability I have, to be part of failure.  Since I have come of age and am able to articulate my points,  I have always contributed positively, to the best of my abilities, to the success and progress of any group/company I find myself in.  It is merely fortuitous that the Media Trust Group gave me a magnanimous opportunity, 5 years ago, to be one of its columnists.

I have concluded that it is not even by force for me to continue to be a Nigerian, or to raise my children as Nigerians.  I used to insist on the goodness of Nigeria and the black race, and I opposed those Nigerians who are always quick to exchange their identity for other countries’.  Not anymore.  For I have put in my fair share of tears and blood into this project.  I have taken enough risks.  I have written many a scary articles on this page and others.  I have envisioned the future of Nigeria and the black race.  Now it may be time to move on.  I should now devolve into more subtle writings, for there is so much to write about.  That said, I hereby offer what I expected of the Buhari government; the reason for my support for him, to be adopted by the incumbent president, where he can.

If Buhari had been president, I would have expected to have a more united and secure society.  For Nigeria has become more divided than ever before.  The entire political process had become based on prejudice, propaganda, hate, religion and tribalism.  But I expected that since Buhari NEVER campaigned based on zoning, his presidency will unify the country.  Some have said the south/south will protest against the emergence of Buhari, but I doubt.  But for the prebendal, negative politics played by some of their leaders, the people of the south/south are quite understanding and peaceful people.  That could be seen in the manner they showed love to late president Yar’adua, after the Amnesty Program was put in place.  Therefore, President Jonathan must RECOVER the unity of this country.  He could start by cautioning his supporters, many of whom post incendiary articles calling northerners all sorts of derogatory names, on the internet and in their articles.  The trend of curses and abuses is definitely alarming.

With Buhari’s ‘loss’ in the polls, Nigeria lost an opportunity to close the income gap.  It is for sure that Buhari would have encouraged a scenario where the poor people will be catered for.  That was what he did in his first coming in 1983.  Then, we had cases of hoarding, where capitalist businessmen made the people suffer just to sell goods at higher prices.  Buhari ended that.  Buhari had also stated that he will ensure that the emoluments of national assembly is pruned down.  Buhari’s loss is the loss of the common man in Nigeria, and indeed a loss for the future generations of this country.  If President Jonathan is able to, he should think of closing the income gap, first by pruning down expenses in the governmental sector.  But can he?  Will he?

If Buhari had won, we would have lived in a nation less given to hysteria and propaganda.  It is evident that the present government encourages Nollywood operatives and comedians.  But I must bring it to the notice of readers, that modern thinkers the world over have seen that the Western economies have fallen into this trap whereby governments encourage musicians and entertainers just because those people provide distraction in the society and by their activities, people tend to forget their problems, albeit temporarily.  Many of those countries we look up to, are filled with unaccomplished, poor masses, who have been encouraged to borrow more than they earn, and to seek entertainment as their lives pass them by.  President Goodluck has given so much money to the entertainment sector, at the expense of other sectors, and this is a great misallocation of resources.  It is important for us to note that China produces 3million engineers every year, more than most other countries combined.  And that is why that country has become great today.  Who are we learning from?  Is it wise to finance musicians and actresses with such huge resources at the expense of real production?

Buhari is likely to come in with a frugal government.  If you ask me how am I sure he would not change, I will point you two things; antecedents, and psychoanalysis.  In 1983 he was frugal, and psychologists tell us that people never change from what they are at 20 years.  Buhari can NEVER go into government today to seek self-aggrandisemnent and acquisition of wealth.  He didn’t do that 28 years ago, he wouldn’t do it now!  A major problem we face in Nigeria is this matter of in-your-face display of stolen resources, and the only way that could be dealt with is by a cultural reform which Buhari could have brought to bear, just as he brought WAI in 1983.  Already the newspapers are full of congratulatory messages from President Goodluck, and a million champagnes have been popped since the elections were ‘won’.  Buhari knows, better than I do, that this is not a time for champagne-popping in Nigeria, but an era for contrition and cooperation instead.  So the ‘owanbeism’ in government would have been reduced.  At least Buhari is a good Muslim and alchohol is haram!   It will be tough for GEJ to caution all the ‘shacker’, who have been drinking to his tab since he ‘won’, after all he is an Ijaw man, and ‘kainkain’ is like water to them.

If Buhari had won, we would have had an opportunity for reinvention and for all to chip in.  In his first coming in 1983, Nigerians followed JFK’s admonition to ‘seek what we can do for our country and not what our country can do for us’.  In those days, everybody looked out for the next person, and for the good of society at large.  That meant that people reduced their dependency on government and took charge of their own lives.  President Jonathan can adopt this policy, but the ability of the PDP to mobilize the poor people of this country is hampered because it is largely an elitist party and the display of money and power by its functionaries is massive.

Lastly, and most importantly, a restoration of the dignity of the Nigerian man, woman, youth and child.  The Nigerian person has lost a lot of his/her dignity more so in the past decade.  We are viewed with a mixture of disdain, fear, distrust, scorn and pity by people of other climes.  The only way to wash away this opprobrium is by a self-reinvention.  But now that we have chosen to maintain status quo, it is doubtful that this reinvention may come.  GEJ will do well to note this and give it a try.  I’m out!