Presidency developing hostile state/citizens relations

• Facing mix-up over national questions
• Threats don’t work in a democracy – Buhari

By SUNDAY ODIBASHI

The Presidency is beginning to develop hostile state/citizens relations which multiplier effect could be deep chasm between stakeholders in the Nigerian project and the federal government. The emerging threats of hostile state/citizens relations is being generated from mix-up in handling the challenging national and political questions in Nigeria.  The mix-up is not unconnected with the approaches the presidential aides have adopted in managing the president’s image.

More so, there are emerging indicators of desperation by some principal officers in the presidency to impose personal idiosyncrasies in handling presidential affairs.  The desperation has created a big gulf within the federal government in such a way that the Presidency seems presumed to be synonymous with the Federal Government of Nigeria, relegating the federal ministers to secondary importance. For instance,  national duties of the Minster of Information and Culture relating to information dissemination on the activities of the federal government, including issues surrounding the president,, have been subsumed by principal officers in the presidency.  Accordingly, there have been too many speeches but few actions; those who carry out the actions are not the ones making the speeches.  The corollary is that pressures that were to be on the federal government have become concentrated in the Presidency, with its multiplier effect of populist disconnect from the government and a seeming hostile state/citizens relations.

Accordingly, the Presidency is under intense pressure and is beginning to reinvent the culture of democracy in a disguise way in handling the challenging national and political questions threatening the Nigeria’s nation building.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has remarked threats don’t work in a democracy; acknowledging the workings of the arms of government in handling public policies in the interest of the people, essentially, on such contentious national issue like restructuring of the polity.

President Buhari, through his Senior Special Assistant, Malam Garba Shehu, on Wednesday, decried the plethora of caustic criticisms across the country over his statement that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable in his broadcast on Monday on his return from medical vacation in London, United Kingdom.

Shehu, in the statement, expressed that it is a matter of great satisfaction that a majority of the citizens welcomed the broadcast, protesting that to criticize the President for not responding to restructuring of the country is completely off the mark.

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President Buhari had generated populist anger when he said that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable. Several stakeholders perceived the statement as dictatorial and tacit closure of the democratic space. This is more so since the National Assembly opposed devolution of powers to states and opted for a subtle unitary constitution contrary to a federal constitution; subsequently adopted resolutions to weaken the states.

Garba Shehu had argued that the President has no power to impose restructuring on the country by military diktat, stating that National Assembly members are the elected representatives of the people who can handle agitations for restructuring and other constitutional changes.

He appears to be oblivion that the National Assembly had already rejected restructuring even without consultations and the President is the only state actor who can convene a national conference where stakeholders in the Nigerian project can negotiate on the country’s federalism. Federalism, universally, is a product of negotiation among the disparate components units of the federal society.

Garba Shehu in seeming illusion, had declared: “Changes don’t happen on a whim in a democracy. The ‘immediate effect’ military mentality cannot work under a democratic order. Since the President has sworn to defend the constitution, he would remain faithful to that oath by working with the legislature in taking major decisions on the future of Nigeria’s federal system.”

The SSA seems oblivious of the reality that the conclusion that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable is obvious reflection of the military mentality he has said cannot work in a democracy. Invariably, the Presidency needs a rethink as Shehu’s argument tends to presuppose.

Garba Shehu had, however, contended: “While Nigerians are free to express themselves, they should exercise such liberty with restraint and a sense of responsibility. Calling President Buhari an enemy of Nigeria is in extreme bad taste, nothing in his service record would justify such scurrilous language.

“The country’s parliament is ready and willing to discuss all issues but the pundits are more interested in TV and newspaper headlines. Threats don’t work in a democracy. Democracy requires planning and proper process. Issues are resolved through established processes, not by abuses, insults or irresponsible statements.”

The challenging health status of President Buhari, naturally requires the cooperation of all stakeholders. President Buhari needs space for relief. It has become apposite that principal officers in the Presidency should get others involved in order to deconcentrate the pressure on the seat of power.