I could not find the right words to express the drama that categorized the last week no matter how hard I tried. President Muhammadu Buhari,aka The Lion King – Nigeria’s messiah, finally returned home after 104days to chase out all the hyenas and jackals threatening to run thecountry down.
But it turned out to be a case of rats chasing out the lion king from his lair into partial hiding. Pardon me but these were the dominant rhetoric on social media last week. As it turned out, comedy and laughter poured out in huge torrents.
Let’s take it from the top. When the news finally broke that the president was returning home on August 19 after more than three months on medical leave in London, I was elated. More out of relief and gratitude that he was returning, and hopefully in better health. It was like the second coming of Christ, except that after having waited for so long, his own day was finally upon us.
As expected, no journalist in the State House Press could have another minute of ease after reading the statement. Questions of when and where he would land started to pour in. We spent hours at the presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, anxiously awaiting the king’s arrival. After pleasantries on arrival, the President, at the last minute, opted to return to Aso Rock by road rather than in a chopper as has been his practice. He was obviously briefed of the crowd of supporters doting the roadside to the airport, waiting to catch a glimpse and welcome him. He decided to pleasure them.
A crowd had gathered at such short notice, I even noticed some states (mostly those in the north mobilised themselves) arriving in bus loads, to welcome the president. They must really love him that much, really. I did not expect the sort of goodwill that greeted the President that day. When I passed that road earlier there was no sign of anything talk less of what later turned out to be a crowd.
When we made to leave the airport, the whole road was taken over by jubilant youths. Some stood on the sides while others boldly took over the roads and chanted `Sai Baba’ and `Baba O yo yo’ depending on which one came close. Interestingly they went on about four plus four meaning two tenures for President Buhari. Besides, they shouted invective on those who had led the resume or resign protests saying they will catch ebola. It was fun but it was scary too to see such a crowd take over the roads.
Fast forward, it was indeed a crazy day for journalists and officials of government but no doubt I went to bed tired and fulfilled that the speculations had finally ended. He was back for good and it didn’t matter what anyone thought chased him back home, there are different versions out there but I will just prefer to stick to my line of thought which says thank God he is back. People have been asking if he is returning to London soon, take a chill pill friends, this time we have did not have the pleasure of hearing him talk about his sojourn in the Queen’s land just maybe he would have mentioned that he planned to return soon.
Then came his broadcast speech. I waited for that speech and must say it disappointed me a bit. Just a bit though. Like other Nigerians, I expected much more and this is not about the volume but the content. I wanted him to comment on the economy, pacify Nigerians who had started running haywire in his absence and that is including other promises his administration is yet to deliver on and things that will just give Nigerians some hope.
On the other hand, I loved his speech on security. I felt like that right there is one of the reasons that Nigerians voted for him. This no nonsense stance, just cut to the chase and true to effect some of those trouble rousing elements are already calling themselves to order. The king has spoken.
After all the excitement and jubilation those creepy spoilers appeared and shortchanged us or they were accused of doing so. The statement was credited to a presidential spokesman who said that Mr. President will be working from home because his office had been infested by rodents in his absence. The humour was unbeatable and the social media space went agog with conversations and memes showing all forms and positions of rats. On first impulse, I thought it was an actual joke until I understood that he actually said it. Then it dawned on me that this was a publicity stunt and yes I think this stunt that worked.
Social media sites and cartoons were inundated with jokes of the rats that had taken over the President’s office and some even mounting guard on the coat of arms. There was even by the Rats Association of Nigeria reacting to the allegations that they had vandalized the President’s office. Nigerians are just jolly good fellows, we never miss an opportunity to get high on comedy.
Nigerians totally turned away from that speech and the fact that the President had stayed away for too long or that they really wanted to know the true state of things. Personally, I am happy that the President is back and through the assignments, he carried out last week I noticed his voice was stronger and yes he also looked stronger so much so that he even threw jibes at those who came to protest in front of the Abuja House in London.
“In fact, some groups in London came and sang the national anthem and asked that I should go back home, indeed I have come back home. I hope those who went there are not stuck there, they will come back and join us,” he said when he met with governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) on Friday.
Earlier same day, the president met with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the opposition People’s Democrati Party, PDP. Though they made it out to be a courtesy visit, for me it was a great unique opportunity to subtly pass on his message to the party whose members went on and on about him being incapacitated or worse. Funny enough, the President took time to shake hands with every one of them so that they will know it is him in the flesh.
I’ll just agree that it was a meeting to prove national unity just as the President said in his speech. Did I mention that the PDP offered to help the President in his anti-graft war? Lest I forget, all the politicians had to use the hand sanitizer before going in for that meeting. They thought me a politician too and I was asked to sanitise my hands, of course I did. My hands are clean.
Elizabeth Archibong
