There has been rising disquiet over the silence of former President Muhammadu Buhari [and his publicity managers] since the National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, revealed that the current administration inherited a ‘bankrupt country’.
This is more so as President Bola Tinubu, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, also told the world that his administration inherited serious liabilities; he, however, acknowledged inheriting assets, as well.
Nuhu Ribadu, at the Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference with the theme: “Leveraging Defence Diplomacy and Regional Collaboration for Enhanced National Security”, a fortnight ago, had declared: “We are facing very serious budgetary constraints.
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“It is okay for me to tell you. It is fine for you to know. We have a very serious situation.
“We have inherited a very difficult country, a bankrupt country to the extent that we are paying back what was taken. It is serious.
“But this administration is doing its best to meet our requirements, including that of the armed forces”.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence Annual Conference was attended by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru; The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa; service chiefs and former service chiefs.
President Tinubu in Saudi Arabia while trying to convince foreign investors to come to Nigeria, perhaps, despite the hardship in the country, had declared: “We inherited serious liabilities, but also assets from our predecessors. We do not make any excuses.
“There are several sectors replete with investment opportunity for smart investors. Access to finance and guarantees can be a hindrance in some cases. You can come in there. We see you as a critical enabler. You have partnered with us before. We want to scale it up now and do much more with greater ambition and clear vision.”
Former President Buhari is the immediate predecessor of Tinubu.The former President has not responded to any of the statements discrediting his administration, neither has any of his media and publicity managers.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders in the Nigerian polity have been wondering ‘why former President Buhari has kept silent while his administration was alleged to have left a ‘bankrupt country’ for a successor?
They expressed concerns how the vibrant and loquacious media team of the former President may have gone underground since the exposure of alleged ‘bankrupt country’ and ‘liabilities’ bequeathed to the Tinubu administration.
According to a stakeholder, “Since Ribadu said Buhari allegedly bankrupted the nation, why has Buhari’s spokesman not responded. “We need to hear from him, normally he is so quick to respond, why the silence.”
Some other stakeholders were of the view that the former President may be taking his time and waiting for an appropriate time to respond.