In a democracy, especially the American-styled presidential system adopted in the Second Republic Constitution, explicit provisions for how the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is to be elected are made, and if need be, resignation.
Resignation can only be contemplated when the president is unable to carry out his duties as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution on the ground of insanity or ill health.
It is regrettable and despicable that despite these clear provisions of the constitution, some persons lurking under the cloak of quasi groups recently amplified calls for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation.
These pseudo groups have taken political theatrics to another level with calls on Buhari to resign as the president and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Like one dancing naked in the market square, these pestle-wielding critics premised their contention on the prevailing security situation in the country.
The call for Buhari to resign is preposterous and begotten from sheer bitterness. The president is strong and sound, and is efficiently directing the affairs of this nation.
What then is the justification for these calls? Deductions from their irrational presentation betray the fact that they are the same people sponsored by ‘deep pocket’ enemies within to overheat the polity.
Their grouse is that the president has blocked all illicit channels of looting and has redirected state funds to his administration’s social investment programme for the benefit of the common man. Most of the critics of the Buhari administration are beneficiaries of the subsidy scam and arms gate that robbed the country of funds meant for development.
We all know that such disgruntled elements and their sponsors will find it difficult to support the next level.
The call to remove the president is not only unfortunate but irresponsible and myopic. How else can one explain the call by mundane groups for the resignation of the president in a democracy? These groups and their sponsors should know that Nigeria is bigger than their pedestal and parochial interests.
These unguarded and outrageous calls are tantamount to ‘playing dirty politics with the issue of security’. In the aftermath of the Zabarmari massacre in Borno state, they deem it fit to ask President Buhari to resign, on the flimsy ground that he did not demonstrate any will to bring an end to insurgency and killings in the North. Going by the efforts, especially human, material and financial resource, the president has put in the security sector the position of these later day critics is not only malicious but ridiculous.
In its fuzzy, disjointed and calamitous stance, they claim that in civilised nations, leaders who fail so outstandingly to provide security will do the honourable thing and resign.
Unfortunately, they failed to mention one civilized country that throws its leader out because of security challenges. How absurd for people to come out to make bogus claims just to whip up sentiment or hoodwink Nigerians into buying into their sinister motives.
But well-meaning Nigerians are earnestly waiting for them and their propaganda machine to tell them more about the so-called the civilized society that forced its leader to resign. Is it in Europe, America or Asia? This is a challenge to the self-appointed activists. Most of us are living witnesses of how oppositions in countries like France, Canada, Italy, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom have contributed immensely to governance in these countries despite the challenges. But in Nigeria, what they do is to discourage those who are ready to contribute to governance in the country.
Obviously, it is becoming clear that it is only in Nigeria that faceless groups are hurriedly put together to concoct lies just to score cheap and irresponsible political points all in a bid to call on the president of the country to resign. What is the impact of these groups if not red herring?
Rationally, what is desired in times of emergency is synergy, putting politics aside and camping around a common approach to solving national issues. There is a saying that, if you see a toad dancing on top of the water, its drummer may be underneath the water.
How else can one explain to these disgruntled groups that every country has their challenge? In spite of the challenges these countries face, they have not resorted to pressuring their leader to resign. Rather, they offer useful advice that can add impetus to government’s efforts at solving the problems.
What can be deduced from their desperate and cadaverous act is that someone or group is paying the piper, hence, dictating the tune.
Their mental indolence would not allow them realise that the United States from where Nigeria copied its model of presidential system have gone through bloody civil war, deadly gun and terrorist attacks like the September 11, 2001, attack on World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Never for once have the Americans call on their president to resign. Instead, at every turn, citizens and groups stand in solidarity with their country to give it the leverage to overcome the challenges.
The painful aspect of this abysmal show of insincerity is that some of these persons should ordinarily qualify as statesmen but have allowed themselves to be used by politicians to fan the ember of mischief and callousness. Conversely, when last did we hear of bomb blast outside Borno state unlike in the past when bomb blast in places like Abuja, Jos, Kaduna, etc was an everyday occurrence? The President Muhammadu Buhari-led war against insecurity has been able to contain dicey security situation in the North-east. First, the president should be given pat on the back for liberating conquered territories from Boko Haram and push back the excesses of bandits and kidnappers.
Working with statistics and reality on ground, one wonders where these critics are taking their baseless impetus from. They don’t deserve to be taken seriously by Nigerians because they are out for themselves. The fact today is that vast majority of Nigerians still have faith in President Buhari and his policies because they see them as a panacea to the security problems facing the country.
Given the tortuous and long journey to Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy, coupled with the sacrifices made by men and women of noble conviction, such calls for the president to resign may be a clandestine attempt by anti-democratic forces to jeopardise our hard-earned democracy.
Alas, even the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) that should know the value of democracy has also joined the bandwagon of calling for the president’s resignation. Nigerians should be on their guards so as not to be swayed by people who do not mean well for the country.
The Buhari government has never relented in the issue of security, as it has remained the focal point of this administration. In demonstration of this fact, no government has ever invested in the security sector like the present government. All that is needed from Nigerians is their unalloyed and unflinching support for the president as he strives to make Nigeria safe.
Ibrahim is director, Communications and Strategic Planning, Presidential Support Committee (PSC).
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