By Louis Okoroma
President Muhammadu Buhari deserves accolade for the strides he has made so far, and the steady progress that he has made in the direction of putting his government in place. The ministerial list of the President has ended up being a master stroke confounding his critics and those who were singing the song of ‘he is too slow’.
The unique thing about the cabinet list is the very speedy and satisfying manner all the nominees were screened and eventually confirmed giving the lie to certain positions that expected a showdown between the President and the Senate. What has emerged finally is the fact that both the Senate, nay the National Assembly and the Executive are coming to convergence on a number of issues most especially, the Change mantra, and the imperative for Change for the survival of the Republic.
With the administration gradually acquiring form and character, Nigerians would expect the swearing in of the ministers to be followed by the ministers beginning the process of putting in place measures that would aid the implementation of their plans for the ministries in the different sectors of the economy. Thus the attention of the President, nay the government would move to other things without prejudice to other no less important appointments which are necessary to complete the full strength of the government.
The issue that would challenge and occupy the attention of the Buhari government all through its tenure is that of nation-building, the cementing of unity and the consolidation of the idea and fact of one Nigeria. One prays that the President, being a simple and unassuming person and a man of integrity succeeds in this task.
If he succeeds, he would have laid the foundation of a new nation, a new Nigeria in which the citizens would be proud of their country and seek to do the best for it. Such a fit would be equal to the one achieved by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has given Nigeria, a new kind of politics that excited the people and made them to challenge the party and its leadership by entrusting it with power through the 2015 national elections.
The task before PMB here is enormous. In fact, the challenge to lay the foundation of a new Nigeria in which all the citizens are justly proud and ready to exert themselves for its well- being and development would be demanding than appointing a cabinet or close aides of the President. It would require the best endeavors of the President and hard work on the part of those he appointed into government.
And it is on this account that the legacy of PMB will be based. Did he leave Nigeria better than he met it? Do Nigerians feel proud to identify themselves as citizens of the country than hitherto under PMB’S rule or not? Would more Nigerians feel that they are living in a more secured and just society where their religious beliefs and affiliations, and their ethnic nationality do not matter? Would those who are not favored in appointments made by the President for one reason or the other say with confidence that they get or have got or are getting their dues notwithstanding? Would the principle of ethnic balance and fair representation in government institutions, which helps to build a harmonious, united and peaceful society be adhered to and developed as a character of the new Nigeria under Buhari or not? Etc.
The forgoing questions have become urgently pertinent in view of recent widespread pro- Biafra protests in the South east and South- south geo- political zones of the country. Interestingly, at different fora a where the reason for these protests were being discussed, the discussants said that the protests were the handiwork of the PDP, and former President Jonathan, his wife and Governor Wike etc.
First, it should be stated that it amounts to a cruel joke to say that failed former President Jonathan would lead a pro- Biafra protest or even assist in organizing one bearing in mind that he is not an Igbo by any stretch of imagination or even the fraudulent PDP party which lied to and deceived Igbos for 16 years making trifle of the latter’s whole-hearted political support. If they are behind the protest anyway, or whoever is behind it could only be for the purposes of mischief. More importantly, beyond the nuisance of it, a pro- Biafra protest in an important city like Port Harcourt could mean that PMB should be vigilant and find out why perhaps, Biafra, as a clarion cry could become the rallying cry of his opponents.
Are there things the administration has done or not done that are emboldening agitators for Biafra or even his political opponents to mobilize the people of the two zones in the South to join such a protest?Pro-Biafra protests are not the only protests in today’s Nigeria. There is the Boko Haram insurgency, Niger Delta militancy, threat of secession in the South-west, occasional outburst of anger by elements of the Arewa Youths and their Elders over the state of affairs in the country, and other complaints of marginalization and injustice by several groups in the country. We have dealt with these problems in the past by calling those involved names and went to sleep.
As an agent of Change, and a man of integrity, there is a task for PMB to find novel solutions to this discontent by ensuring social justice and equity. It is important that at the end of his tenure, Nigerians should say with pride, this is one man who left a worthy legacy bequeathing to the people of Nigeria, a nation in which no one is oppressed different from Nigeria, where secessionist agitations and complaints of injustice and neglect were the order of the day.
Okoroma wrote from Abuja. Email: [email protected]