I served as a Head of State, Governor and Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) but never looted the treasury unlike Nigeria’s past leaders who own 20 to 30 houses while some Nigerians cannot even afford a room. I’m going to re-contest come 2019 and I will win by the special grace of God Almighty”, President Muhammadu Buhari expressing confidence in God for his expected victory in 2019 polls.
And I begin this one with a thunderous “Amen”, expecting all lovers of Nigeria to say the same. The last few surveys I have made of Nigerians of different categories in connection with the reelection bid of the President in 2019 have been encouraging. I have surveyed the positions of the Nigerian traditional rulers, the Church and the Nigerian media. The positive response and support from these institutions give hope for a renewed Nigeria with the continuity of the current Buhari-led administration.
The President’s quote above is not but the truth, though the best part of it is the full dependence on God Who has heard the heart-worries of Nigerians and their resolve to change their country, Nigeria, by themselves under the leader they so much love and trust. I must assert from the onset that the Nigerian elites are divided over Buhari’s continuity bid. They are severely divided into two: the supporting side and the opposing side.
There is, assuredly, a third group which is playing “the hypocrite”, neither with this nor with that, or secretly with one side against the other. It is politics, indeed. I must own up that some politicians who supported Buhari in 2015 with the hope that it is going to be “business as usual” have been disappointed. Some of them spent their money – some were loots from Nigeria’s treasury – thinking that they will be compensated with appointments to continue the looting-mania. But Buhari has remained himself, ever ready to right the many wrongs of past leaders against Nigeria.
That is notwithstanding. President Buhari should make new friends. Since he took over office, the President has largely depended on old friends some of whom he has so much trusted to the extent that he entertains no complaints about them. Yes, a lot of them have justified the trust he reposed on them. Governance is being redefined at the national level with a lot of inputs from them. Sanity, discipline, financial appropriateness and the true spirit of Nigerianism are gradually being instilled in Nigeria. It is something of joy, indeed.
Generally, there is a tremendous change in government business. It is clear and many true patriots have testified about it. But all Nigerians, including the minorities and all parts of Nigeria are the President’s constituency. He told Nigerian at the inception of his first tenure that he belonged to all Nigerians.
In relation to the 2019 presidential race, there are comfortable reports that the Buhari-government is favoured by the upright Nigerian elites – those who have the compassion for good governance and democracy. Despite all said, Ahmad Bola Tinubu is one of them. He is a political colossus who has far-reaching influence in Nigerian politics today; a man whose wings can tame the dangers of some anti-Buhari political elites.
The team that actualized the 2015 dream is still much alive and relevant. The team is still very ready to do it again. And there is very little doubt that they team will do less. Rather, there is hope that members of the team have been charged with the positive progress in governance and the achievements their efforts have earned the nation.
Muhammad Ajah,
Abuja.
