The APC is simply acting out that script which should ordinarily unsettle its presidential candidate. On the forthcoming polls, I think the president still stand to his ‘I belong to nobody’ statement- which is quite apparent! The president has since become somewhat non-committal to the Tinubu presidency.
President Muhammadu Buhari lost the plot barely before he settled in for work- he betrayed his tentativeness in the basic task of stringing together a team. Then, a lot of other things followed which began to unsettle not a few Nigerians.
The beautiful promises on the soapbox morphed into thorns forcing some of the most rabid supporters to romanticize his predecessor.
Gradually, the path his administration chose to tread, resonated with older and history conscious citizens as the quotidian life of ordinary citizens began to make a steep decline. Nonetheless, he was still a huge slack.
Suffice it to say that as a military head of state in the 80’s, his tenure presented a huge burden of losses and despondency- an epoch better imagined than experienced. Unhappily, the country is still reliving the past under him. What is it about him that lurches the country between hopelessness and resignation?
Sometimes fate can’t be cruel- we were simply handed a poisoned chalice- that’s the verdict! The people were adequately propitiated by his display of a pro-people stance mixed with a spartan lifestyle which earned him unprecedented support. So sad how life can be. Today, the messiah has come down like a lead balloon.
The president simply doesn’t want to go in peace- he just threw a curve with the currency redesign policy forcing a chaotic and frenzied scene across the country. Granted, that the ostensible purposes are profitable but the entire implementation appears not well thought out- the obverse would have reduced the stress. It’s now about blood, sweat and tears in carrying out any financial transaction.
To all intents and purposes, the situation is pulling a hard punch on an economy that isn’t on a fine fettle. What’s more- a threat to a seamless poll. The conflation of the intractable fuel crisis and currency swap fiasco is proving a combustible mix that’s already sparking violence on the street.
Truth is, it has never been so good to the average Nigerian since the president came into power. So, talking about his sparse achievements would amount to a spite to this class of people. I believe we’re product of our decisions- decisiveness is critical in leadership. And, i believe the lack thereof is a contributory factor to the lackluster premiership of president Buhari.
The currency redesign isn’t without precedent- India had its demonetization policy which was as chaotic and disorderly as our current experience. I thought lessons whether of successes or failures would have been drawn from that experience. Could it be that the rush to implement the policy out of veiled reason(s) was behind the oversight?
It’s now proving to be a difficult proposition in divesting Nigerians of the impression that high wired politics is at the foreground of the swap policy. The people are still wrapping their heads around the timing of the exercise which has well-nigh torn the All Progressives Congress (APC) down the middle with rebellion spawned therefrom. The members of the party are now singing from a different hymn book.
The fiery Governor el-Rufai almost poked his hands into the president’s face through his counter address to the people of Kaduna state on the currency brouhaha; that pushed me like many to the edge of my seat- it’s really getting hot! Some of the governors are egging their citizens on, in the use of the proscribed Naira denominations in their domain. The election is just days away and the party is fraying at the edge so quickly!
Recalled, how erstwhile president Jonathan endured overt and covert threats to his ambition in 2015 from within his party. Not a few party members went rogue with anti-party activities becoming commonplace. The fabric of the party was torn into shreds. The roof of the party was practically pulled down to the ground. It was a defeat for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at home before they matched onto the field.
The APC is simply acting out that script which should ordinarily unsettle its presidential candidate. On the forthcoming polls, I think the president still stand to his ‘I belong to nobody’ statement- which is quite apparent! The president has since become somewhat non-committal to the Tinubu presidency. He hasn’t requited the zest, energy enthusiasm and sacrificial support that people like Tinubu gave to his bid. He has effectively pitched himself into the pantheon of the country’s unpopular leaders.
No doubt, as he leaves office to settle into a private life there he will learn about the numerous missteps, misfire, great rampage and pillage that took place right under his watch. Then, he will realise how he botched a rare second chance to write his name in gold. Certainly, he’s leaving behind an ugly trail of confusion.
Abachi Ungbo