Like play, like play, the clock started tickling; seconds
rolled into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days, days into months and
of course, months into years.
It is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari has
clocked two years in office today, Monday, 29th May, 2017. Another opportunity
to really assess him if he has brought the desired "change mantra" he
promised Nigerians. A potpourri of reactions has trailed the President's
leadership style.
The bane of Nigeria is that people who are unprepared for
leadership positions are helped to occupy important positions in the executive
arm of government. A politician who aspires to lead Nigeria should have a good
grasp of Nigeria's history, the issues confronting us as a country. If elected,
must have a blueprint of policies ready.
It is stale news that Nigerians are not happy with Buhari as
per their expectations. Buhari, I need to tell you that Nigerians are no longer
exercising patience.
A hungry man does not understand patience; he hankers
deliberately to fill his belly with edibles. A hungry man daily expects between
life and death. He may be praying to go to heaven, but he is not prepared to
die at least of hunger. Counsel him to exercise patience and you become his
number one enemy. We will not be fair by calling people names because they have
told President Buhari to sit up. God has not configured man to be patient with
pain and suffering. Those who are craving for visible change from President
Buhari's administration want to see a reflection of change.
They want to be sure that government is on the same page
with them. Human memories are short; and leaders all over the world are human
beings who need to be reminded of their obligations to those they lead. If you
don't remind them, they may never remember you.
Sai Baba, two years in office after your historic assumption,
it has become increasingly tedious to see the change Nigerians voted for. The hitherto
much vaunted body language of the President seems to have evaporated.
Currently, Nigeria is in a terrible state. The price of the
majority of items has increased, electricity that would have provided a
soothing relief is now a scarce commodity. The absurdity of asking the masses
to bear the brunt of government inefficiency is the height of irresponsibility and
unexpected of a government that raised the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians, but
now sees nothing wrong in altering its electoral promises. It does not require
rocket science to engender good governance. Nigerians are tired of lousy
services, lethargic approaches to critical issues. There are no indications
that the government is moving in the right direction and hope for a better
tomorrow remains forlorn.
Sai Baba, do we need the circuitous route to get to the
promised land? Buhari promised to nudge the nation on the path of rebirth and
regeneration, but it has remained "story for the gods". Things are
getting harder each passing day. I likened Nigeria to a brand new car, which embarked
on a journey with a full tank but could not arrive at its destination because
it had a shattered windscreen and faulty engine due to the inexperienced and
careless driver.
Let me categorically say here that, I write this article
without any malice. More importantly, I expect no personal gratification other
than to see change in the lives of the people.
Buhari, when we told you to hit the ground running, Mr. Femi
Adesina your special adviser said ‘NO’ that you might fall inside the mud.
Are you crawling or walking, no matter what, we cannot
continue to move at this millipede level. The average Nigerian is very high in
pessimism and very low in patriotism. Hardly an edifying fact for a country
that wants to grow; Nigerians are encircled by grinding and excruciating
poverty. There is disconnect between the people and the government. The economy
is in tatters. Those who gave Buhari a benefit of doubt in his second coming
are already gnashing their teeth now. Boko Haram is still hanging like the
sword of Damocles on the heads of Nigerians, the Fulani herdsmen are maiming, raping
with reckless abandon, kidnapping has refused to stop, armed robbery is a daily
exercise, salaries are even owed and Nigerians are dying needlessly on a daily
basis.
Buhari's leopard spot has not been able to change its spot.
His methods and feelings are still the same. His mission is as serpentine as
ever. He promised change and has no idea of what change stands for.
Those that campaigned for Sai Baba dressed him in deceptive
drapes of inadequacy. The more they shout change, the more things remain the
same or even worse. We don't need a fictional George Orwell to tell us that
things are not moving well.
Like an ancient curse, the same old problems continue to
haunt Nigerians. We have been sitting on a barber's chair, swiveling in all
directions without change.
Lest I forget, Buhari and his party All Progressive Congress
(APC) did not really have a plan, what they possessed was to come into office and
think of any. The blame game is still all over the place. Nigerians are no
longer at ease and things must not fall apart, because the arrow of God is not
a purple hibiscus. The issues that confront Nigeria are as glaring as a bright
shining star and the effects as scorching as the rays from the sun, but some
pettifoggers employed by the APC choose to deliberate on inanities.
Take it or leave it, this is a dummy change.
*Chris Uruakpa is a public commentator and contributed this
from Lagos.
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