Politics

Missing link in Buhari administration

Published

7 years ago

March 31, 2017

Olu Emmanuel

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Where is the no-nonsense retired Army General – Jibrin

BY SUNDAY ODIBASHI

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari appears to continue to show indices of incoherence in the organization of the Nigerian government since the past two years, investigations have revealed.

Reason: National Daily is of the view that the corollary has been the protracted internal power tussles or unmitigated Cold Wars between stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government. Various heads of government departments and agencies deploy the powers attached to their offices against their colleagues in contesting the power tussle ravaging the party-government. Power tussle between APC leaders spilling over into public institutions and obstructing the process of governance.

Accordingly, the APC has become a theater of chaotic government of one political party, conflicting interests and agenda of governance. In the storm of the conflagrations in the APC-government, President Buhari has noticeably maintained pacific silence at specific points where executive intervention were necessary. Several state actors entrusted with roles that will ensure good governance, effective and efficient service delivery, have turned the governance system into a state of nature where might is right; creating more antagonistic forces against the President within the hegemonic party.

During the Buhari military administration of 1983 to 1985, late Brigadier Tunde Idiagbon was always there to guide the making and enforcement of decisions. Public policies were apt and enforced with precisions. The warehouses where politicians hoarded “essential commodities” such as rice, milk, tomatoes, baking flour, etc, were forced open and commodities distributed to people at normal market prices without apology.

As matter of fact, some of those who hoarded those commodities to make Nigerians hungry while they enriched themselves were already in gaol and could only hear the story but never witnessed the actions. Manufacturers and producers were compelled to place price tag on their products and no retailer could exceed the identified price on the product.

Considering what have been happening in the APC-led government in the past almost two years, several stakeholders have asked the question – where is the change APC promised Nigerians?

Some stakeholders have, however, argued that democratic norms have constrained President Buhari from firm and unapologetic actions. Taking such argument as given, democracy does not constrain ideas.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, retired Army General also, was never constrained by democratic norms in virtually all his actions in office. He created the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); most political actors who were indicted on corruption, Obasanjo insisted on conclusive justice; some went to jail, some forfeited property. Critics resorted to hitting Obasanjo that he was fighting his political enemies; at least he dealt with some persons conclusively.

In the current Buhari administration, the story is not the same. Maybe, that indeed, is the change APC has brought – an incoherent system and weakening institutions.

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The Director General of the Department of Security Service (DSS), for instance, sending conflicting reports to the National Assembly and the Presidency on EFCC Acting Chairman in a government that both agencies are assigned with complementary roles.

Stakeholders in the polity are of the view that President Buhari must have the consciousness that at the end, every condemnation will be in his name, not the appointed state actors who must have done the damages. They maintained that the current socio-economic crises in the country have shown that Nigeria is bleeding; the time for President Buhari to show leadership character is now.

Meanwhile, Abdulmumin Jibrin, member of the House of Representatives still on suspension, admonished that history may not be kind to President Buhari for the many instances he failed to do what needed to be done.

Jibrin bemoaned that President Buhari has not been active in taking actions on some national issues that he ought to have taken. The embattled federal lawmaker, then, wondered what has happened to the no-nonsense Buhari.

Jibrin had decried that Nigeria has been moving “too slowly coupled with uncertainty and crisis everywhere.”

Jibrin declared: “History will be kind to President Buhari for his integrity, building opposition and ending insurgency but may never forgive him for his many inactions. President Buhari’s inaction are so numerous that you are tempted to doubt if he is aware of his inactions and all the absurdity presently going on. Is this the Muhammadu Buhari we know; the no nonsense general? No, something is wrong! If not, we would have seen more decisive actions.”

The lawmaker further pondered over some questions: “Could it be PMB’s access to information and current happening is restricted in an attempt to reduce his worries and help him fully recover?

“Could it be some powerful people are aware of this situation PMB may be in and are taking advantage of it and/or taking things for granted?

“Well, things are not adding up! Uncertainty and crisis everywhere, we are moving too slow when we can move faster. Is the C-in-C even aware?”