Why we should support Buhari

By Yarima Habu Mohammed

Before the 2015 Presidential elections, Nigerians generally hung on the cliff of despair and uncertainty as to the direction the country was headed. At the same time, we realized that, like it happened in other countries, it would take one person, just one person to show the light, lead, guide and serve honestly by providing inspiration towards a better future for us all.
The search for that torchbearer led us to the choice of Muhammadu Buhari as our President. His incorruptibility, integrity and transparency stood him out.  No one has ever called him a thief. At least not to my recollection. He is a man on whose honour we could swear. Put him on a scale of moral and financial probity, he will come clean.

He is one President, who has made the point that the purpose of leadership is to serve.
Buhari became President when corruption and systemic decay was at its worst ebb and had devastated our nation due to the antics of a thieving political elite whose sole aim was to amass wealth by appropriating all resources to themselves even at the expense of destroying Nigeria. They wallow in this false consciousness that they are the state and therefore can appropriate it as if it were their own personal estate. Corruption, does not only enrich these characters who specialize in bad behaviour, it denies citizens the benefits of good governance.

A few days ago when I was discussing with Dr. Ategbole, a senior consultant Pediatrician following the World Health Organization’s latest ranking on health care delivery, he succinctly summed up the Nigerian scenario in the following words, “187 position among 190 countries is our place because of the reasons we all know. 5%  of the national resources for 95% of the people, while 95% of the resources is shared among 5% of the people, absolutely shocking”.

Regrettably, our system breeds greed, ineptitude and criminality, the resultant effect being the celebration of political job –seekers and bandits with wealth from dubious sources without being creative or inventive. As citizens, it appears we have diminished so fast in value and character, such that no matter the misdemeanor or malfeasance, all a culprit does is to arrange an array of sycophants to praise instead of rebuke him. This explains why we are a wealthy country with poor people.
To make matters worse, we have a civil society whose main goal I have doubt about. For me, they appear like an illusory assemblage of an unserious lots who focus more on seeking the attention of donor organizations than making deliberate effort towards the upliftment of our people and our country. One thing is sure, they are  not known for sustaining their campaigns.
All these can change if we, as a people stop being docile and stand up for what is right in order for Nigeria to  realize her potential as a great nation.

It is in our power as citizens to support our President to take back our country. What we require is determination and vigilance to keep our elites in check. They had their way because the citizenry allowed it. We must remind ourselves that they thrive and are maintained with the taxes we pay from our sweat. President Barak Obama in his farewell speech as the 44th President of the United States of America attested to the power of the citizenry as stake holders in the growth and development of their nation.

His words, “in the face of the struggle, is where I learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved and get engaged, and they come together to demand it….. I am asking you to believe, not in my ability to bring about change but in yours”. This, according to President Obama, is what made America “the wealthiest, most powerful and most respected nation on earth”.

Therefore, we, the people are the answer to our hope.
The key to this hope lies in our attitude. We can change the narrative by ensuring that government serves the interest of the larger society, especially if we leverage on President Muhammadu Buhari’s political will.
It is our determination as Nigerians that will re-inforce the President’s initiative to enable us build our institutions. Once we strengthen our institutions, they will function optimally, devoid of personalities and eventually, we shall get to our desired target of putting Nigeria on the path of growth and development. For us to make impact, the mass media of communication must be sensitized to stay on issues for as long as they are not resolved.

Following the realization that a drastic situation requires drastic solution, the Nigerian media, the civil society family and the general public must insist that we have internal political party democracy, the byproduct of which we will elect people who are popular and of honour and integrity as our representatives. We must insist that investigation into agencies of government such as the NNPC, the CBN, Nigeria Customs, and the review of  power sector privatization,  just to mention but a few, are concluded.

Dr. Mohammed writes from Abuja via [email protected]

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