Nigeria is a unique country. One that boasts of too many intelligent commentators and critical analysts. Going through Nigerian dailies, this much can be deduced from the many opinion pages. However, the sore point with the litany of commentators, opinion writers and analysts in Nigeria is that most of them have lately constituted themselves into prophets of doom, naysayers and masters of letters but without any substance.
It is disheartening that most of these people seem to think that by virtue of the letters after their names, they know better than those of us without a letter apart from the initials before our surnames. So they come out with ‘abracadabra’ to confuse the masses. They have used every trick in the book to confuse the masses on the good works of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, casting doubts on the giant strides the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has made since May 2015.
The simple truth is that the man Buhari is doing a wonderful job in eradicating the pests and madness of our society—corruption, indiscipline, insecurity and so on. The question I have always asked this band of prophets of doom and naysayers is where were they when certain officials gathered together and decided to share money that was meant for the procurement of heavy military hardware to fight terrorism? Or who could have been bold enough to prosecute a sitting Senate President, top politicians and popular individuals without fear? Who else could have tackled upcoming terrorism as ‘Biafra agitators’ and the menace of renewed militancy in the South South.
The lessons we are learning now is that if the now fading Boko Haram nuisance had been dealt with through military response, like we are witnessing, they would have become history by now. The point l am then making is that instead of destructive criticisms, these so called ‘Dr. Know-alls’ should come up with solutions to support and help the progressive movement. Unfortunately, even if Buhari assumes some supernatural powers and walks on water, the naysayers will say it is because he cannot swim. It is a known fact that you cannot please all the people.
One challenge I have consciously thrown at our band of intellectuals is that they should give the masses the names of other individuals they think can perform better than Buhari. The time has come for Nigerians as a people to learn to show appreciation for their leaders so that our country can move forward for the sake of our future and generations yet unborn.
One of the things our band of critics have been talking about lately is that the President has been appointing people into positions from a particular section of the country. Inasmuch as these people have the right to their opinions, there is the need for us to be objective. What the greatest critics of Buhari have forgotten is that the overall interest of the nation and the ability of the appointed persons to move the nation forward is the most important. Whether he puts his mother, his dad or his whole clan in positions, it is unimportant, as long as we are moving forward. The truth is that if we had continued with ‘you chop, l chop’ PDP, things would have been worse. Even the developed countries went through hard times before they got better.
Today, Nigeria is a better place in the sphere of security, thanks to President Buhari. If you come to Abuja, you can feel the peace and calmness around. People go about their businesses, go worshipping in their churches and mosques without the fear of Boko Haram. Hooligans parading the streets of Onitsha in the name of Biafra were quickly quietened. The marauders, lawlessly carrying guns in military style, vandalising oil pipelines and terrorising communities in the name of Avengers, behaving like they are untouchables, to their own misfortune, when the forces of real military action came on them, they fell to pieces. This is what a real military in Nigeria should be. It does not really matter what people say, the military command under Gen. Tukur Buratai is doing a fabulous work and does not need distractions from negative press the way our prophets of doom and naysayers are going about it.
If the militants and other violent groups disturbing the peace and economy of this nation want dialogue, they will be listened to. But if all the stolen money from former President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime is being used to buy guns and bombs and handed over to some thugs to start war (because EFCC is closing in on them ), what do you expect ? War only begets war. Histories are written by victors, not the defeated.
Like l said earlier, even if Buhari walks on water, it won’t marvel those who are set in their ways, as in the case of our Lord Jesus Christ, they will still say it is because he couldn’t swim. Leave the man Buhari alone and learn to face and manage your own immediate problems. You guys behave like kids deprived of cookies. Grow up!
- El-Buraimoh wrote in from Abuja
