Robert Greene in his 48 laws of power describes reputation as the cornerstone of power. He posits that through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once it slips, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides.
One single aspect that gave President Buhari victory in the last election was his reputation. He was seen by Nigerians as an austere statesman, with an anti-corruption disposition. He was seen as a man with the reputation of incorruptibility, who will clean the stains of corruption of yester years.
The present administration took off on 29th May in some days, it will mark its first 100 days in power. Some Nigerians are pondering on what achievement they will showcase in this milestone. Since the inception of this administration, most aspect of our economy has been nose diving, the naira has experienced a free fall against the major currencies of the world. The absence of an economic team makes it difficult to control the economy. The President has not even appointed a secretary to the federal government who is seen as the engine room of any administration.
The SFG is a stabilizing factor in any administration, the administrative head, and the bearer of the compass that indicate the direction of the government. This implies that for the first three months, there is no direction, no policy statement, and no bearing in the administration.
The President and his Vice, a pastor boasted that they will publicity declare their ‘meager’ assets immediately they are sworn in, behold, the nation waited for this laudable departure from the past, only for them to clandestinely declare their assets, as others before them. This was to be the foundation of the war against corruption, but Femi Adesina came out to say that it was the APC as a party that promised public declaration of assets and not the President or his Vice. If this two individuals don’t have ulterior motives, what is the big deal about publicly declaring their assets? If they are ready to fight corruption, why can’t they give us the yardstick to measure their belongings before and after power? What are they hiding? By this singular acts they are hanging their reputation in the balance, and as Robert Greene say they are vulnerable to attacks from all sides, since they have not made their reputation assailable.
On the war on corruption, they are starting on a very wrong footing. The only Nigerians deemed corrupt by this administration are from the opposition PDP. Everyday fables on how some ridiculous amount was embezzled, missing or unaccounted for fills the social media. A state government who owes workers for close to a year is not called to explain why, instead he is given ‘bail out’ and hailed as a champion of democracy.
A governor who already has a heavy debt burden on his shoulders is permitted to borrow other 75m dollars, and he has less than six months to quit as a governor! A politician whose asset is worth billions of dollars is hailed whenever he goes to though the source of his assets can be traced to state funds. All these people have one thing in common, they are members of APC, and contributed immensely to the campaign and election of the President. Is this how to fight corruption? Who is fooling who?
The immediate past President was vilified for not handling the scourge of insurgency perfectly. He was called unprintable names and seen as a weak leader, but six weeks to the end of his administration he was able to liberate at least 85% of the areas occupied by the terrorists.
There was international conspiracy against his administration and he has no eternal help to fight Boko Haram. He was denied ammunition, but discovering new friends, he achieved that much. Between 29th May and today, over 900 men, women and children have been slaughtered by Boko Haram as if there is no government in power. When Jonathan contemplated dialogue with Boko Haram there is no name they did not called him, now the President is ready to dialogue with the ‘real’ leaders of Boko Haram! Thank God the service chiefs have been given three months to end insurgency while dialogue is in progress.
Some Lagosians are celebrating ‘improved’ power supply by Buhari administration. I will not cease to wonder how some people reason! What has Buhari done about power since he took over? Is there any minister for power? Who is the magician that suddenly fixed the power sector? I don’t need a soothsayer neither do I need a crystal ball to tell me that what we are experiencing in the power sector is the spillover from the last administration. Those who believe that its Buhari’s achievements are however entitled to their opinion.
A couple of weeks ago, the American President invited the general to America, or did he just go there to say thank you for your support? Such a trip is laudable, but who did he go there with? The visit would have give him an opportunity to tell the American what he hopes to do with his electoral victory. The Americans expected him to come with his economic team, political team, and off course military advisers, lo and behold he went there with some funny, corrupt governors. One went to America to show case his new belle! It ended up as four days of wasteful Jamboree with nothing to show for it. The Americans were amused by their levity and told them that they can’t sell arms to them because of human right abuses by the military. Our President replied that America is aiding and abating insurgency by not selling arms to him. There were some political gains to the visit though, if you go to one of the state capitals, billboards are erected all over showcasing the governor shaking Obama’s hand, smiling and exposing all his dentures. An achievement!
Nigerians are tired of waiting for Buhari’s saint ministers. We are told that most of the names sent to be considered as ministers have failed the ‘corruption’ test, and cannot be sent to the senate for screening. So far some appointments have been made, NPA, NNPC, INEC etc. 99% the appointees are Moslems from the North. Buhari does not belong to anyone, and belongs to everyone. The co-ordinators of ‘Bring Back our girls’ one of the vehicle APC used to discredit Jonathan have been settled in their respective states. Some are awaiting ministerial slots while others will be Ambassadors. The labourer deserves his wages, abi no be so?
Buhari’s reputation is at stake, he should do everything possible to protect it, let him at least kick start his administration. Nigerians are waiting.
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