Opinion: Buhari Yet To Hit The Ground Running

A Political analyst Chidi Okoye laments the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to hit the ground running after so much hype and promise during his campaign for the coveted seat of the President of Nigeria.

Article Highlights

– President Buhari needs to begin full administrative work

– A certain degree of dictatorship is required to get things done right in this country

– The President should focus on a core area or two (say fighting corruption and fixing power)

This article expresses the author’s opinion only. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com or its editors.

Full Article Below:

Today makes it day 17 of  President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Apart from an inspiring inauguration speech that fired up his admirers, the president has failed to hit the ground running as promised. Indeed, as one critic aptly captures it, “the president seems to have hit the ground and sat down”.

READ ALSO: DISCLOSED: How Much Buhari, Saraki, Dogora And Others Will Earn

Events which surrounded the inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly have shown that individual ambitions do not seem connected with the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC)’ promises of change.

Indeed, the return of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has caused critics to wonder if all that has changed in the Senate and House of Representatives is not just a change of sitting arrangements and a few new faces.

The system isn’t new. It has been around for a while. It will undoubtedly stay around for much longer; perhaps well beyond Buhari’s tenure.

Cynics predict that at the end of this current administration in 2019, Nigerians will still grapple with the crippling weight of insufficient power, lack of basic infrastructure, corruption and unemployment.

However, we cannot all sit and twiddle our thumbs while the rot continues. President Buhari has made several promises to Nigerians and it would be the duty of every true patriot to help him succeed.

One gets the feeling that the old man might be slightly overwhelmed with the level of decay that confronts him and the shackles of politicking that has been thrown around him.

To free himself and get down to the work, Buhari needs to be a benevolent dictator. I have always believed that the Nigerian system is not suited to democracy. A certain degree of dictatorship is required to get things done right in this country.

The president, if he truly desires to fix a few things, would have to jettison political correctness and trample on many toes to push through his reforms.

For example, his alleged disinterest in his party’s shenanigans in installing a parliamentary leadership would have to be reversed.

READ ALSO:  President Buhari Throws Light On Why He’s Not In A Hurry To Name Ministers

Buhari should also pick areas of concentration. The APC Manifesto was excellent for securing votes but it is time for it to be cast aside. It is highly doubtful that the country’s present economic situation would allow the president carry out all the promises contained in that document.

Focusing on a core area or two (say fighting corruption and fixing power) for the next four years will enable the president achieve appreciable results.

In the long run, and by several administrations inclined to this same strategy, Nigerians begin to experience real change.

The system will ofcourse fight back; but that is the more reason why any committed reformer needs to concentrate on specific battles and win them. One battle at a time weakens the system. All we need to do is get leaders ready to keep fighting these battles until we have won enough for the system to collapse.

Only then can we build a new system that consist of things working as they are supposed to.

The post Opinion: Buhari Yet To Hit The Ground Running appeared first on NEWS.NAIJ.COM – Nigerian & worldwide news..