I am dying with the help of too many physicians- Peter the Great. Really, Nigeria has been dying with the prescriptions of too many physicians but now we have a surgeon on seat. When a surgeon operates, his goal is to save the life of his client/patient and promote his well-being. Surgery may be extensive and recovery tortuous but the eventual total recovery of the patient justifies the surgeon’s decisions and procedures. Nigeria has suffered for some years from the short-falls of palliative therapies by various physicians. It is now obvious that for our national health to recover and sustained, surgery is mandatory. And a “surgeon” has taken charge. Since he is also a general, we would like to refer to him as Surgeon-General. His perceived goal is to heal Nigeria by “Surgically” excising those “Chronic diseases” dauntingly confronting Nigeria. We believe that his knife is sharp, his training apt, his experience vast and relevant, his care total, his equanimity appropriate, his patience suitable and fees affordable. The surgeon-general is President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB). His fee is patience, understanding, support and co-operation from compatriots.
There is nothing to suggest that a surgeon cannot make mistakes but his training, experience and modern technology have virtually eliminated such grievous incidences as leaving his tool inside his patient’s abdomen. Likewise, PMB is not infallible and we cannot pretend that there is nothing in his long career of service to his nation which those who respect and admire him would wish otherwise. PMB is a leader who has been tested and trusted in school, military career and national leadership. Given his antecedents he is not like to commit gross mistakes in the discharge of his duties. We believe that his surgical skills are strong enough to systematically handle the numerous problems facing our country. His interventions may be extensive and intensive but we know that the well-being and happiness of the generality of Nigerians is his greatest goal. A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy. We also believe that these interventions are not directed against any particular group or doctrine but against the ills of our society: corruption, poverty, hunger, insecurity etc. with their devastating consequences.
Just as any surgeon treats his clients from above prejudice, PMB speaks to Nigerians from above politics. He bluntly tells us the truth and the reality of any given situation, as biblical Moses unequivocally spoke to his people concerning their destiny. PMB may choose to speak to us from Abuja, Daura, Beijing, New York, Paris, London, Reykjavik(!), Lagos Ikene, Jalingo, Garkida, kojoli (Jada LGA), Awka-Etiti, Ogbunike, okpoama, Epe, Agenebode, Kachia Igbo-ora (Oyo State) or from wherever-else he chooses. Truth is Truth however, whenever, whenever it is spoken! The problem is that Nigerians often find it difficult to swallow the truth-pill because of its inherent bitter taste. However, this behavior is not peculiar to Nigerians. Harry Truman (US President 1945-1953) once stated “I never give them (American public) hell. I just tell the truth and they think it is hell”. In Nigeria, we prefer to quarrel over the location from where the truth is spoken rather than analyze its likely impact on the polity. We conveniently avoid the real issues and chose to pursue ephemeral shadows.
PMB’s statements may appear “unpolitical” to our ebullient political pundits but PMB is not just in politics, he is a great statesman. A great statesmen a is sincere and unambiguous in his words and actions. He strives for long-term goals which eventually suit situations as yet unforeseen.
We appreciate that in a democratic environment, opposition will always assiduously try to prove that the governing party is unfit to rule. This position also is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is the doctrine of all opposition parties worldwide. However, this trait should not be wittingly or unwittingly developed to cynicism in Nigeria. Mass cynicism is a very debilitating phenomenon, it is unhealthy and unprofitable for our society.
As the surgeon ignores certain medical protocols that may cause delay in dealing with an acute medical emergency, we wish to educate those professional arm-chairs critics who perennially regard certain actions of PMB as dictatorial that no serious national or international emergency has ever been effectively dealt with by democratic process. We strongly suspect that the deployment of the atomic bomb that ended the Second World War in 1945 was neither earlier debated in the American congress nor tabled for discussions in any meeting of the League of Nations. We definitely do not
support dictatorship but we have confidence in our president, we trust him to act in the best interest of Nigeria even in emergencies; he certainly carries our mandate to do so.
To the seemingly implacable sceptics we counsel: consciously Change your warped mentality in this period of positive change. The era of scepticism is over, the future belongs to progressive change agents, not wreckers and wasters. It is said that the mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye, the more light you pour on it, the more it will contract. Nevertheless, we urge the ever vociferous ethnic, religious, political and intellectual bigots to allow showers of patriotism thoroughly soak their minds and adequately dilate the pupils of their minds-eye to enable them perceive the progressive change and the bright future which PMB and his team are set to deliver to Nigeria. To our eminent, sagacious political leaders we advocate peace, political stability and reconciliation. These are who not too much to ask for, they are the very minimum required of all politicians who process to work for our national interests. From every Nigerian patriot we solicit firm support, generous encouragement and unalloyed loyalty to PMB and his government in the Change Agenda in order to give Nigerians GOOD HOPE and a new delightful SONG through purposeful governance. From the Clergy we request: Prayers, Prayers, and Prayers for the President and the nation.
May GOD help us. It shall be well with Nigeria.
J.C. Ojukwu & Obi Gerald Anyanyo
