To those who wish Buhari dead…

The rate at which some people are moving from mountains to campgrounds, wishing their president urgent death is very shocking and disappointing. Truly, President Muhammadu Buhari is ill and he is receiving treatments abroad. But the question that has been troubling my mind is this: when one’s relative is not feeling too well, does one pray he dies, for whatsoever reason?

Many have become prayer-warriors because of the frustration caused by governmental recklessness. But even while we are frustrated and emotional, should our logical and critical thoughts get beclouded? Falling ill is human.

There is no man that has never been on a sickbed in his lifetime. So, the uproar over Buhari’s health status is needless. Just because he’s a president, he shouldn’t fall sick again? Is he not human?

I understand the fact that former President Umaru Yar’Adua’s story is still very fresh in our collective memory. But this is Buhari, not Yar’Adua. What happened to Yar’Adua may not necessarily happen to Buhari.

Many perceive Buhari to be an enemy that brought hardship to Nigeria, so they believe that once he dies, things will probably be in order. However, the questions we must ask ourselves are: Will his death solve the problems on ground? And in fact, who says Buhari is the cause of our problems?

The death wishes for him illustrate the fact that we have lost our values as a people and our cultural practices are fast fading. Our eyes of critical thinking and ethics have been blinded by our emotions and ‘politically biased’ minds.

We no longer have shame. We are so proud and bold that we utter uncultured statements. This is worrisome!

I must also mention here that the government is also responsible, in part, for this kind of reprehensible attitude displayed by the citizens. Obviously, no man will bite the finger that feeds him. On the other hand, every man will not hesitate to cut away – and even chew –  the finger that steals the food meant for him.

This government of ours doesn’t give a damn about the citizens. It cares less about whether the citizens are dead or alive.  Maybe that’s why the citizens also have an ‘I-dont-care’ and hostile attitudes towards leaders.

In all, I am of the view that wishing or praying that Buhari should die isn’t the best option. It is inhuman. The government must equally be more active in its leadership roles at this juncture. I pray for the president’s quick recovery.

Festus Ogun

Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State.