The President has spoken. Twice last week, he spoke on issues of the moment. First, on the last day of September, after the Senate had sat and adjourned, President Muhammadu Buhari’s emissaries arrived to hand a sealed envelop containing ministerial nominees to the Senate President. In doing that, he addressed the anxiety of the people and checkmated plans of his adversaries. The truth told, I also saw no reason why it should take so long to decide those who would administer the country with him. With that move, composing the Federal Executive Council has moved to the second stage- screening of the nominees by the Senators.
Then, on October 1, the President had his day in addressing the nation on his thoughts and perspectives on issues of the moment. It was a short speech that dealt with a number of contemporary issues.
The President, in terms of charisma was no better than his predecessor. He was hardly audible, but sounded sincere and believable. He came across as a man honest and at peace with himself. He sounded like one who would have said the same things had the time and circumstances been different. But, of all he said, I found the reasons advanced for the long delay in choosing his ministers disarming. He explained that he had to make a choice between speed and order. It was his considered opinion that the federal bureaucracy could not be left at the pre-May 29 level and expected to perform rfficiently and optimally.
Therefore, as recommended by his transition committee, he had to settle for restructuring at the same time as putting together his team. It was a cogent reason. The question, however, is why did it take him so long to come up with it? Had he volunteered the information early enough, the bad press and public agitation would have been halted. Is this the Buhari style, or sheer arrogance? I recall that he did the same over the controversy that trailed his educational status during electioneering. This might not be the best, going forward. He is no longer General Muhammadu Buhari, a retired military officer and former Head of State who could choose to be tight-lipped, pleading privacy. He owes the public explanations and his media team must be empowered to deliver.
The President did not just speak through submitting his ministerial nominees to the Senate to grill, he also spoke to the expectations on the quality and caliber of the men and women who made his list. It is obvious that opinions would remain divided on this. The skeptics would argue that it is the same old guards; predictable. He went for the Director General of his campaign organisation, the man who superintended the convention that made him the All Progressives Congress’s presidential candidate, national chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples’ Party, legal adviser of his Congress for Progressive Change and Mr. Babatunde Fashola , seen mostly as the face of performance in state administration. And then, the question, if so predictable, why did it take four months? The argument that there was intense lobbying in the party is easily dismissed as it could not have been otherwise. Even in the Peoples Democratic Party, it was so,let alone a party that has as many as four strong tendencies. It was left for the President to put his feet down, pick those he knew could deliver and on whom he could take the rist of running the race with.
In the days and months and years ahead, one would expect the President to speak more with Nigerians. He cannot afford to dismiss the people as if they are inconsequential. It is even more insulting when he chooses to get his message across to Nigerians through foreign media organisations. He is the Nigerian President and must run the administration in the country. It is unacceptable for him to keep sealed lips at home and open up to a foreign audience. His media team should tutor him on the danger on getting the channel of communication clogged.
He could also do with some speech delivery practice sessions. He would need it in capturing his audience both at home and on his frequent visits abroad. It is not too late to deliver some flair even as he reads a prepared speech. For effect, it would not hurt if the President were made to listen to speeched delivered by the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, the late General Murtala Muhammed and rx-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In the next four years, at least in the first instance, President Muhammadu Buhari would be carrying the burden of this complex country. He is required to come across not only as the Chief executive with the authority that goes with it, but equally as Father of the Nation and the sense of responsibility it connotes, the Commander-in-Chief and the decisiveness that must accompany the appellation and Inspirer who mobilizes the people to change the national fortunes.
One of the channels through which these qualities could be gauged is the national broadcast. It is my humble suggestion to our President that he submits to experts to work on the flaws. It could only reinforce his greatness.
