Buhari, Nigerians and fatigue

Some six months into the life of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, there are reports to the effect that many Nigerians are getting weary about what seems to be the lacklustre performance of the administration. Indeed, if the nationwide survey by one national newspaper is anything to go by, it looks as if Nigerians have been sold a false mandate of change. Proponents of this perspective readily point to the persistent queues at the filling stations, the gridlock occasioned by bad roads, and a comatose economy which appears to lack direction in view of ambiguous signals from the government.

When much of the foregoing is complemented with what has been called the cosmetic war on corruption, then it appears that for now at least, the silver lining is not yet in sight.

As much as we would like to agree with some of these damming depositions, we want to urge caution on the part of the Nigerian people. It is instructive to state here that the Buhari of earlier times who operated within the context of a military regime is currently functioning in a very different political climate.

Again, those who are in a hurry to see the promised change may want to realise one fundamental and unassailable fact. If the mind-numbing revelations about the immediate past are anything to go by, then it should be appreciated that Nigeria is in reality a country coming from a long, dark tunnel in which instantaneous fixes will not do.

Matters have not been helped by the fact that President Buhari himself virtually tantalised the populace with the possibility of a clean state as far as ministerial appointments are concerned. At the end of the day, reality dawned that politics is really about the art of the possible, and not about fantasy as regards saints who will clean up the proverbial Augean stable in one fell swoop.

Furthermore, what may well have been responsible for the tardiness of the administration was that the president started out as a solo performer. This would partly explain his numerous trips abroad. Consequently, in view of the fact that the ministers are now in place, future trips can easily be undertaken by these new government appointees. In the process, the president will have more time to coordinate and have a better grasp of situations and policies.

Given the fickleness of public opinion, we will not succumb to the easy temptation of joining those who are of the view that this country is going nowhere under this administration. We believe that, in view of the president’s recent foreign trips, prospects abound that very soon our road networks and the rail systems will be revamped. Audu Ogbe, minister of agriculture, is making similar pledges, while Kayode Fayemi is also showing us the vista of a new dawn as regards the much-neglected but lucrative solid minerals industry. If and when these plans bear fruit, it is obvious that Nigeria would have started on a new path towards the promised land.

Even then, it should be remembered that such is Buhari’s ascetic profile that very few are likely to disagree that the season of the locusts is over, and in its place is a relatively clean government whose ethical profile remains largely untainted. It is on this note that we urge Nigerians to give this administration the chance and time to put in place a positive and sustainable momentum.

On this note, it will not be out of place to give the last word to one of our peerless sons, Chinua Achebe, who said “it is morning yet on creation day”. In light of these immortal words, our conviction is that President Buhari will hopefully come into his own in the fullness of time.