"He notes that the recent outcomes of the National Assembly election contrary to insinuations are products of interplay of politics which is itself in constant motion".
A lot of undertones of manoeuvre domicile in this statement. Meanwhile, our president has moved into Aso Rock, her Excellency moved in ahead of her husband last week Thursday. I believe the business of governance stated in earnest June 22nd 2015. Going forward, Nigerians are expecting a departure from the go-slow disposition of the president. However, Buhari's larger than life aura was in high gear when the president paid a well televised visit to his farm in Daura, flanked by his son and some other persons, he exhumed that lifestyle of an ordinary but modern fulani farmer. The president went to the farm in his sparkling white babariga, I noticed he didn't wear singlets, who wears singlets to a farm? However, Nigerians are expecting much more than the image making display of the president. We are in the fourth week of this dispensation and Nigerians are impatient and are eager to breath an air of change, for me positive change. While we continue to wait on his Excellency, reasons for not appointing ministers have been given as a result of the late submission of the Joda Transition Report of the last administration. The president clarified at the sidelines of the AU summit that the delay is also a period of due diligence as the consequences of his actions are solely his responsibility. However, we wait to see what becomes of the list given that some front-line stakeholders have been dislodged and uncertainty hovers over who handles what portfolio. However, last week, the president stated that,
“I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.”
The PDP have begun to settle in as the opposition given their ouster in the last elections at the federal level and this statement was like throwing small amount of meat into a den of hungry and angry lions. Supporters of the ruling party and the opposition had a field day throwing tantrums at each other. While the APC came to the defence of their flagbearer, stating that we as Nigerians do not comprehend English language enough to know what Buhari means, they stated that it implies something much more than reading that statement literally. If this statement was an adage or should be taken literally, its left for the open media to discourse and dissect. However, the morale of the story is that the elections were highly charged and so much propaganda were infused into the polity. APC's house of cards is fast falling apart faster than they expected. When APC concocted lies, hypocrisy, propaganda, old wines, unholy alliances and all sorts of negativities to find their way to Aso Rock, they forgot that whatever a man sows, they shall reap. They sowed wind and they are reaping whirlwind. Good a thing men don't control the consequences of their actions to large extents. Lies like age is just a number in less than 21 full days into Buhari's presidency is being exposed, the effects of mountain and volume of files to review before taking decisions are already weighing in. Tell me any African president over 70 years that has achieved any significant growth in their country in such measure that is comparable to the developed world. At a point the old man should be chilling in retirement or best be in advisory position to younger leaders, he is taking on the toughest job in Africa and in fact the developing world.
As noted earlier, Atiku Abubakar who is jostling and positioning for purported presidency in 2019 is currently 68 and will turn 72 in the next four years. The job of leading Africa's most populous and largest economy is not a job for very old men. At 70, a man has lived enough to retire. So the president's confession is surely the truth, one which would have undermined his election but a truth he cannot run away from as president. Only the gaffes and innuendoes of the president is enough to tell us that being the president requires a younger Nigerian, it is quite unfathomable that a person who is the president of Nigeria calls Germany,"West Germany". Jesters, mockers and all those online comedy producers who had a field day making and poking fun at the former president especially her former Excellency are relishing the opportunity to continue their trade. However missing in this fray is Doctor Damages on SaharaReporters, it is time to make fun of the president.
Scrutinizing the president's innuendoes and gaffes have become old fashioned because the APC have achieved their aim. The measure they meted out to PDP will be appropriated to them. This is just a feel of it. The loquacious Lai has not stated interpreting the words of the old man. Good a thing as the days come by, given the complexity of the work of governance and the fast rate with which presidents grow old in office for instance Obama, I am 100% assured that Buhari is not growing younger, so expect more of the same. Its a bumpy ride for the next four years. They voted for change, change they get.
As Nigerians were impatiently waiting for change, the legislators threw spanners into the wheel of progress, there were media reports that they have approved a whopping N9 billion as wardrobe allowance. Nigerians like already wounded animals pounced on them mostly online to show their displeasure. News later filtered in that the amount they will actually take home annually was .5 million which is a fair deal. However, all these are unofficial. Am not sure if there is anywhere on the National Assemble website where the full details of salary and allowances are fully stated. In a related development, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has said that it will not release the details of the president and his vice assets declaration, citing federal laws that constrain them from doing such. In fact, it is not uhuru yet, those who expected a holy man to man Aso Rock are beginning to think twice. Although corruption will reduce, the gains will not be significant if this democratic dispensation is starting on this footing. For those who are following up with the promises Buhari said he will fulfil, this might one of those official secrets which will never see the light of the day.
Flashing news beamed in the horizon last week when news filtered into the airwaves that the presidency was auctioning off the 9 aircraft including the two models of Gulfstream in that fleet. There was an air of optimism while APC and Buhari's supporters applauded, the presidency disappointed their fans that the news should be disregarded as false alarm. Our president loves his flamboyant aircraft and jets. For your information, the president prefers the latest of Mercedes benz models, the S600 made for class, power and men of influence. Governance in Nigeria is expensive, however, the present government shows signs of being frugal given the antecedents of the president as a modest farmer.
The refineries which have been undergoing turnaround maintenance are expected to pump 5 million liters into the economy as from July, 2015. The president has settled down in Aso Rock. Nigerians expect the ministerial list and also a fence mending meeting between the president and the stubborn sons of APC, Saraki and Dogbara who have both hijacked the leadership of the federal legislature. While APC has demanded letters of apology from the duo, Goodluck has been gallivanting around the world. Some of his foot soldiers have called for bestowing him with a noble prize for not plunging Nigeria into political crisis.
As the president resumes fully the business of governing Nigeria, expectations are high, citizens want to see and feel the change. While the states are in very bad state of financial crisis begging for bailout, the international community are looking up to Nigeria to tackle Boko Hara and lead Africa,we are counting down to the first 100 days.
All focus is on Aso Rock.
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