When General Muhammadu Buhari opted to try his luck at securing the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, the support he got came from many corners- politicians and non politicians. Yes, we realised that while the decision was up to the partisans- registered members of his party, but patriots had to get involved in the campaign. He appeared the ready material to fight for Nigeria.
The PDP and former President Goodluck Jonathan had so hopelessly managed national affairs that it was clear that the vehicle could only crash if the mistake of handing the key to the PDP candidate was ever made. President Jonathan lacked ideas, had no charisma and was probably not even interested in the progress of the country. To effect, he also unleashed a woman who was more of a political liability than an asset on the country. She was more of a distraction than a complement. She failed her husband and failed the nation. And, unfortunately, the President could not rein her in.
At that point, realising the enormity of the task of wresting power from an incumbent President in a developing country, we knew only Buhari on the platform of the APC coalition of forces could do the job. Before the last push for the job, Buhari had contested thrice and lost. He had shown resilience and fought doggedly. He said the right things and presented us with the prospect of a leader who could show understanding of demands of leadership, seal the leakage points and demonstrate the will to work for the common people. He is not one given to idolizing material possession and his military background made him the nationalist needed to succeed a lackluster President.
Many of us expected that he had been sufficiently prepared that he would hit the ground running. We thought he had enough time to be prepared for governance. We thought he knew the people were fast losing faith in government and governance and the Here and Now Syndrome that had taken roots. We thus thought he would seek to give a new direction to the rudderless ship of state and say and do the correct things that would give confidence in the people.
So far, there is nothing to indicate that we read the man well. He has been so painfully slow that even his friends in and outside the media are finding it difficult to defend him. The few decisions he has taken so far do not assure anyone that the man has good advisers, even in unofficial capacity and are beginning to sow doubts as to his ability to make the right appointments. How could anyone justify his appointment of two senior spokesmen with schedules poorly defined? Who is really in charge, no one knows? In communication, this is a recipe for disaster. The media would in due course reach out to the one and the other and they may contradict themselves and that would be the real story. Something must be done. Then, in appointing Professor Jega’s successor, the President has not acquitted himself well. He knew the tenure would expire June 30. Jega also wrote to inform him, but mum was it from President Buhari. That was until the departing INEC chairman was forced to take a decision- he appointed, ultra vires I must agree, an acting chairman. But, what could Jega have done? He had to leave and on his last day in office, the dithering BOSS failed to act. Jega could not have handed over to the Secretary of the Commission to warehouse the office since there were serving National Commissioners. They could not be asked to take instruction from the commission’s secretary. If they had to meet to take urgent decisions and steps on any matter, the secretary could not preside. This is different from the ministry where, in the absence of a minister, the Permanent Secretary, even without being so charged, takes charge. So the Professor made an appointment. Only then did our President wake up to realising that he has a responsibility to fill the vacuum in acting capacity or nominate a substantive chairman. Could his delayed action be excused on the ground that the President and his party had consistently campaigned for a thorough reform of the electoral process which includes the mode of appointing the national commissioners, the chairman and Resident Electoral Commissioners? This could not have stopped Mr. President ffom making an acting appointment as he came round to doing eventually.
This is a wake-up call on President Buhari. The country can no longer wait for President Buhari to show that he means business. He should realise that perception is important in this business and that initial impressions could take long to change. Change is important, but it must take effect at the appointed time. This is the appointed time. President Buhari, please rise to this occasion; walk your talk.
