The Buhari midterm

It is two years now since Buhari was sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I still could see in my mind’s eye as the President took the oath of office at Eagle Square, Abuja, and thereafter delivered his address and rode around in a Land Rover vehicle pumping a clenched fist in the air. The President had declared in his speech that he belonged to everyone but belonged to nobody. He also repeated the promises he had made in his campaign to deal with the Boko Haram insurgency, confront corruption and revitalise the economy. As usual, there were great expectations that the country and its citizens were on the threshold of enjoying a life of peace and prosperity.

Two years down the line, it has been a mixed bag and the judgement on whether Buhari has done well or not is dependent on whether you support him or not. However, generally speaking, President Buhari has fulfilled his promise of retaking the Nigerian territory from Boko Haram and recovered over 100 stolen Chibok girls. Though Boko Haram continues to bomb soft targets using innocent girls bedecked in improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the hitherto mass attack they carried out on Nigerian villages and towns unchallenged have been contained.

Just like the war against Boko Haram, the fight against corruption has recorded appreciable progress; previously untouchable people have been detained and arraigned before the law courts and colossal amounts of money recovered them, thanks to the singleness of purpose and passion brought to bear on this mission by Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, who has remained focused notwithstanding the refusal of the Nigerian Senate to confirm him.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s greatest challenge remains the revitalisation of the country’s economy. The collapse of the price of crude oil, soaring prices of food as well as shrunken value of the Naira and serious drop in foreign reserves, etc. are all indicators of a troubled economy. These have in turn led to the closure of some industries, giving rise to unemployment and poverty. As we speak, the 2017 national budget on which millions of citizens have pinned their hope for improvement in their material conditions is yet to be operationalized. Mercifully, economic and financial analysts have indicated recently that the economy is on a slow rebound and that this will be steadier in the months ahead.

One strategy on which the Buhari administration has based its reconstruction of the economy is the revival of agricultural production, the opening of mines as well as improvement in power supply. All of these will spur new industries and provide the much needed employment, especially for our restless youths. Whereas there has been a remarkable improvement in agricultural production, there is no appreciable progress in mining and power supply.

Regrettably, the El-Zakzaky and Nnamdi Kanu sagas have thrown spanner in our efforts at national integration. There is serious turmoil among the Shi’ites and the Igbos think there is nothing much for them in this country. A negotiated end to the stand-off with their followers may have to be explored in order to put an end to the bloody skirmishes between them and the Nigerian security forces.

The Nnamdi Kanu matter in particular threatens to resurrect the ghost of bloody rivalry between the Igbo and the rest of the country, particularly the Hausa-Fulani. More than ever before, the Igbo are calling loudly for the restructuring of Nigeria along the so called geo-political zones. For many Nigerians, particularly those in the North, there is strong suspicion that the clamour for restructuring is a first phase item in the agenda for the balkanisation of the country by those that have lost out in the current power equation. Along with the resonant call for the implementation of the resolutions of the so called national conference of 2014, this new campaign is becoming like a kind of distraction for this administration. It is very doubtful if President Buhari will grant these requests. Buhari is not a fan of a drastically decentralised political power, he favours a strong centre; for him, curbing corruption and waste, as well as efficient management of whatever resources accrue to the government provide the key for national development. This was amplified last week by Professor Ango Abdullahi when he spoke at the 90th birthday celebration of Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.

Buhari belongs to the old school and so will do anything to defend and preserve the current structures. For him this is one lesson driven from the civil war and any effort to deviate from that means people want a repeat of our bloody past.

Long before he was humbled by illness, Buhari had ceased to raise clenched fist. Buhari, has indeed, mellowed down; otherwise, it would have been impossible to consider releasing Nnamdi Kanu even on ‘iron bail.’

It is now time for President Buhari to take a fresh look at his government and reshape it where necessary. There is no doubt that Buhari’s teeming supporters are still behind him and remain hopeful that he will improve their fortunes. The President must remain focused on his original promises to the citizens. Let him continue fighting Boko Haram and all kinds of murderous groups, including the herdsmen’s until he fully secures the country, let him maintain the war against corruption and wastages, let him ensure regular supply of power, let him regenerate the economy and provide employment and he will earn the respect of even his adversaries.

Only those who can see the future from this day can dismiss President Muhammadu Buhari’s government as a failure. This is midterm and like a football match, a game is not won until the final whistle. Here’s a prayer to almighty God that Buhari regains his health and his job so he can fulfil his covenant with us.