By Bola Bolawole
Hurrah! President Muhammadu Buhari is back -alive and not as a body-bag! As humans, the death of another human being must necessarily diminish us. So we must never wish anyone dead. Besides, death is a debt that everyone owes and which everyone must settle; the only difference is that everyone has his or appointed time. Interestingly, it is not the ill or sick that always dies first; those who are hale and hearty and have no known ailment have been known to die even before those said to be terminally ill. So, God is the author and dispenser of life and no human should arrogate such prerogative to himself or herself. However, because of his position as president of an important nation like Nigeria, whatever happens to Buhari must necessarily be of utmost public concern. So, it is to be expected that his health issues attracted public attention as well as generated heated controversy. None of those who joined issues on this score are to blame; even though some might have engaged their gear on over-drive. The matter of Buhari’s health deserves the attention it got.
Presidential spin doctors also did not help matters in the way they shrouded the president’s health status in utmost secrecy. That way, they denied the president the empathy he deserves from Nigerians. They allowed the rumour mill to flourish. They heated up the polity. And they made everyone who asked legitimate questions about Buhari’s health status look like an enemy. They created a “we” and “they” scenario. They portrayed themselves as the ones who love the president while even those genuinely inquisitive about the president’s health were cast as enemies. That way, they greatly reduced the president’s circle of sympathisers to a few cabals; who were believed to have done so not because of any patriotic or altruistic goals but for selfish and self-serving motives. They were alleged to have fed fat on the Buhari health saga. So, the president’s handlers must carry all the blame for the mess their poor handling of the situation created. They had the example of the late President Musa Yar’Adua to learn from but they simply decided to play deaf and dumb. All over the civilised world we also have examples of how public figures treat their health issues as matter of public concern. Therefore, there was no tangible reason(s) why our own case should have been treated differently.
That said, we thank God the president is back. We must also thank the “Resume or Resign” movement that joined the issues that served as catalyst at least in propelling Buhari’s hurried – and harried – home-coming. Presidential spin doctors have denied that the protests by the “Our mumu don do” movement had anything to do with the timing of the president’s return but we know better. We thank the organisers for gingering Buhari’s return. If not for them, the president, I can bet, would still have remained in London under the watchful eyes of his doctors. Even as things are now, I expect the doctors to take residence in the Presidential Villa to keep watchful eyes on Mr. President because the man I saw addressing Nigerians a few days ago was still very sick. He is certainly better now than what we heard he used to be; he surely might have made a miraculous return from the land of the dead but he is yet to fully recover and be strong and energetic enough to move straight into the battle field that is called Nigeria. Buhari still looked frail and weak. He needs more stamina and strength than the one he displayed on arrival if he to adequately grapple with the troubles of this country. It was good and reassuring that he addressed us but he belaboured himself to do so.
He struggled with his speech. He must have mustered all the strength in his veins to read that few minutes’ speech. His speech was also slurred. Buhari surely needs more recuperating to do. Ideally, he should still be in a nursing home and not the frontline of battle, especially during this volatile period in the country’s history. Nigeria is in a very delicate situation and in the days and weeks to come, we shall find out which is better: an acting president who was not in charge or a feeble president who will have to rely on the cabals around him to run the country for some time to come. And that is praying that London will not beckon unto the president again.
Now, Buhari’s speech was a disappointment. It was drab and uneventful. It neither rallied nor give hope. It was, indeed, an anti-climax. It spoke not to the nation as a whole but to Buhari’s closed-circuit constituency of those who want no change but are satisfied with how the country is. Buhari’s speech was anti-restructuring, which 70 to 80 percent of the country clamours for right now. Buhari characteristically pitched his tent with the conservative core North that wants the status-quo ante: Those who insist that the country’s unity is non-negotiable. It is settled, Buhari insists – and all those noisome folks chanting restructuring should shut up – or else! Buhari has promised the stick! This is a law and order president. Those crossing the line must watch it!
This is still the same Buhari of 1984 and publishing even the truth can land you in jail, like it did to The Guardian newspaper editors – Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor. No time-wasting jaw-jawing dialogue, Yemi Osinbajo-style, please! Buhari has no stomach for it. The economy did not get as much as a sentence from the president. Yet, this, outside of restructuring, is the most pressing issue of the time. It is true: the leopard hardly changes its spots – and for no fault of theirs. It is just the way they are! Short on energy and stamina; lacking in ideas and ideals; and cut off from the mainstream of popular opinion – what kind of leadership will Buhari offer in the less than two years that remains of his stewardship?
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The terms of reference of the Committee is to monitor the election in line with the relevant provisions of the party’s constitution.
The Committee is of eight members drawn from the six geo political zones of the country.
It shall work in collaboration with the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State.