Between Aisha’s ‘noise’ and Buhari’s silence
Aisha Buhari has created a niche for herself as an exceptional wife of a president by her audacious assertion against corrupt practices visible enough for her to decipher. She blew the lid off the cleavages of cabals adding dead weight to the strides her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari is trying to make in repositioning Nigeria and fight against corruption. She was at a time, emphatic that her husband will return from medical vacation to chase away the hyenas and the jackals from the animal farm called the presidency. Now she has locked horns with management of State House clinic over poor service delivery.
In her courageous outbursts, Aisha has managed to overlook critical facts, most viable in combating activities of the weasels in the presidency, which is the will power of her husband to combat ally’s bringing ridicule to the “change” administration. Most people berate her audacity, insisting she is supposed to be anonymous, others feel she is trying to control her husband.
Her revelation on the State House clinic only confirms fears of most rational Nigerians over the way and manner scarce resources are siphoned by key officials under the Buhari led administration. Considering the allocation of N4.2bn in two years to keep the place operational, it is shocking the clinic does not have a serviceable X-ray machine. Her observation is not only an indictment on officials in charge but a pointer to security risk on the life of our president who has been managing health issues. Those who squandered the state house clinic funds must be treated as terrorists.
The silence of President Buhari over gazillion of corruption allegations is making critics think popular opinion about his integrity is overrated. While the observations of Aisha is based on what she can see, there are many systemic acts of corruption allegedly perpetuated under the administration of Buhari buried with propaganda, which many right thinking Nigerians are beginning to get irritated about. The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay asserted that leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), are promoting corruption, adding that the National Assembly is enjoying from proceeds of corruption. He was promptly attacked and threatened fire and brimstone.
Sadly, president Buhari is too silent, too casual about myriads of allegations flying around those close to him. The case of former or suspended SGF, Babachir Lawal who the senate exposed over N270m IDP grass cutting scandal is fresh despite silence from the presidency. His famous “who is the presidency” is becoming instructive. A report has been submitted to Mr. President as Nigerians await pronouncements, which is rather taking too long.
There are many unfortunate cases where the present change administration has refused to convince the people they are capable of bringing Nigeria from the brinks of systemic corruption, waste, administrative laxity among other inherited and self-induced challenges. The Kachikwu, Baru debacle appears to be one of the biggest single cash transaction in Nigeria without “due process” where $25bn was involved. Under the present circumstance, we can only pray that the voices of the Aisha’s break the silence of the Buhari’s.
Israel A. Ebije, Abuja.