Those who wish President Muhammadu Buhari well must now be asking: for what would Nigeria remember him? The question arises because of the growing perception of gross failure of PMB as leader and administrator. In four years, PMB has divided the country rather than unite it, and under him, all the indices of the country are looking down rather than upwards.
The President took the oath for a second term on May 29. Unlike in his first coming, he is now head of a democracy that has entered its 20th year and is stable. There is thus no fear of a truncation.
A long and growing to-do list stands before the president. Security is top. The issues on security include Boko Haram, the herdsmen menace, handling of the challenge of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria and their perpetually detained leader, the Niger Delta and unresolved matters such as the clean up of Ogoni land. Nigeria should also pay attention to trouble smouldering next door in Cameroon as refugees trickle into the country due to the crisis in that country.
Security was one of the critical areas the president and his party promised to outperform their predecessor. There was the assurance that the Boko Haram disturbances would be quickly sorted out. On the contrary, the nation has moved from claims that Boko Haram has been “technically defeated” or “degraded” to an admission that group remains a threat to at least the North East of the country.
The economy too needs urgent attention. The Nigerian economy has been in the doldrums since it entered into recession under Mr President’s watch. While the country exited that phase, key players and the average citizen feel the blues in the poor performance of the economy. Almost all indices are looking southwards.
Take power, for instance. According to the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the Federal Government has spent N900b on power projects since 2015. Unfortunately, the lived experience of citizens with power belies such humongous expenditure. Capacity has not improved, nor is there better supply or reliability. Power remains critical to any measure of success and is needed to power the economy and wellbeing of citizens.
All of these require a leader who is focused and hands-on with eyes on the ball. Unfortunately, the perception is growing that Mr President is focused on matters other than the task for which he fought and won re-election.
No one can say that Mr President is busier than he was in 2015.
Well-meaning Nigerians such as Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and PMB’s erstwhile running mate Pastor Tunde Bakare have now arrived at the same conclusion with most of the country: Nigeria is too big a task for Buhari to handle. We have the classic case of the Peter Principle. In offering himself and accepting to serve as civilian president after nearly four decades out of public life and civic engagement, PMB has entered his level of incompetence. It is a sad development for the country.
There is so much to tackle in Nigeria. Nations of the world and our peers in Africa are driving full speed ahead. No dithering. They are tackling the social and economic challenges of their countries with vision, clarity and conscientiousness.
Under Buhari, Nigeria has now spent the first two months of his new term getting more divided on matters such as the failed effort at land grab, a policy initiated and pushed by an unelected member of his kitchen cabinet and civil servants without a cabinet head. A cooperative National Assembly headed by persons the party and the President desired has reached out to indicate a willingness to collaborate. Alas.
We hope that the Soyinkas and Bakares of this world are wrong about the lack of capacity of Mr President. There are too many issues requiring focused attention and diligent implementation. Time is at a premium and time is not on the side of the President while it is running out fast for the country.
Leaders tend to become lame duck very fast under this democracy. Effective leaders get their best work done in the first two years of the term, and that is for those who set forth immediately. Many in the political class are already holding consultations and permutations about succession in 2023. Yet the work for which the President took the oath on May 29 has yet to commence.
It is unacceptable. Someone, please wake Mr President to the urgency of the task before him and our country.
