Buhari Is Not About Buhari
Written Paul I. Adujie Esq.
Presidential Elections have been over since April
2015 and Muhamadu Buhari prevailed over Goodluck Jonathan, or put
differently, APC surpassed the PDP at the polls, and consequently, presidential
inauguration was celebrated on May 29, 2015.
But since then, however, there have been
commentaries by so many, commentaries which may have led even reasonable
persons, to conclude that political campaigns of the presidential type, for
2015 have not ceased!
The fact of the matter is that, the next
presidential elections in Nigeria is not until 2019.
Why then are so many politicians, and even some
members of the Nigerian public appearing to have been suckered into this
seeming endless presidential campaigns?
There seem to be a vigorous national clamor for the
failure Buhari, but why?
All these, are happening, even before he has had a
chance to govern and make legitimate mistakes as president!
Nigerians must realize that Democracy is about
governance and the dividends of democracy should , positively impact all
citizens directly, regardless of political party affiliations, and to that
extent, at the end of every political campaign season, elections completed and
inauguration takes place, all citizens are entitled to expect the benefits of
democracy.
In order for democracy to have meaningful benefits
to citizens of our nation, there ought to be a recognition of the fact that any
given president of Nigeria is a fleeting symbol of our collective national
aspirations.
Nigeria appears to currently practice a meaningless
or banal democracy, in which self-interest is put over and above national
interests, it must be said that such a democracy is almost comparable to or
even identical with how criminal enterprises or the mafia operates, and
such democracy is indeed banal.
After 16 years of continuous elections of public
officials or democracy nationwide, a majority of Nigerians have no smidgen or
modicum of benefit or dividend from democratic processes.
The Nigerian public, particularly the professional
politicians, should realize that democracy and politics are about the citizens,
the people, and so, the current clamor for Buhari’s failure is against the very
essence of our national aspirations, our national best interests, and democracy
dividends for the people
No reasonable persons should be opposed to vigorous
political debate, I am not against partisan politicking and even aggressive
partisan competition, but, I am surely against clamoring for the failure of any
president of Nigeria…. as I am against efforts seemingly geared towards
torpedoing the current president, as those engineering his failure apparently
see only what might become an opportunity for some elites.
A vibrant opposition or criticism is healthy for
democracy to succeed. But legitimate criticisms may not be confused with
efforts to stampede and intimidate, a particular political leader, without
logical or rational basis,
The success of any given Nigerian president is the
success of all Nigerians and even non-Nigerians who wish Nigerians well.
Reasonable Nigerians must not clamor for failure of PMB.
It is assuredly the case that, if and when the
current president of Nigeria tackles major national issues well, it will be in
the best interests of Nigerians and Nigeria, Buhari’s success is not about
Buhari, because if Buhari wins, Nigeria wins!
The success of any president of Nigeria at any
given time period, is the success of Nigeria, it is rather parochial and
shortsighted, to clamor for the failure of any president of Nigeria; because of
personal ill-will or animosity towards him or her.
Buhari presents an immediate opportunity for all
Nigerians and Nigeria!
Buhari has so much riding on his presidency for
Nigeria. He represents missed opportunities , civil, military and then civil.
He, at once represents all that has ailed Nigeria and all that will heal
Nigeria.
President Obama of the United States of America appears
to recognize this in Buhari, when he described Buhari as a man of integrity and
a clear thinker, while Buhari visited him in the White House.
My generation of Nigerians are in trepidation of a
possible failure of Buhari or a failed Buhari presidency! The
worthlessness of our the Naira, our national currency, the extremely high rate
of unemployment nationwide, the dearth of public infrastructures and an economy
without requisite industrial capacity are national emergencies which frightens
me and should concern every Nigerian at home or abroad!
Buhari represent a fresh start, a clean slate and
wonderful new golden opportunity for Nigeria’s development, progress,
advancement and national greatness with his avowed integrity and
incorruptibility.
Imagine if Buhari, antecedents precedents and all,
decimates or even eliminate corruption? Imagine that Buhari tackles
unemployment? Imagine Buhari focuses on public infrastructures, roads, bridges
and housing? Imagine if Buhari kills Boko Haram? Imagine if Buhari solves
Nigeria’s perennial poor electricity generation, transmission and distribution
problems? Imagine if Buhari can create a more robust national
transportation networks?
Clearly, Buhari’s success is not about Buhari, it
is, instead the success of our collective aspirations as a nation! I urge
Nigerians to become cognizant of these fact and become singularly focused on
Buhari’s success! Let all Nigerians of every political persuasions fathom how
to make a success of the Nigerian Nation, let’s give Buhari a breathing space
to get on with it!
