Buhari has left Nigerians in doubt of his good intentions, by Edet Umo

Rev. Edet Umoh says that Buhari has left Nigerians in doubt of his good intentions

Buhari has left Nigerians in doubt of his good intentions, by Edet Umo

By Edet Umo

We could recall vividly the excitement that heralded the birth of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2015. Buhari’s new personality was standing tall overboard. The campaign promises were apt with the best desires of the people: revive the economy and make Naira equal to the United States’ Dollar, fight corruption and provide security.

ALSO READ:

Why Governments Should not Play Politics With War Against Insurgency

GLORY OF GOD CAN’T RESIDE IN SINFUL LIVES – 2Pet 1:4

With Buhari’s win, it was like a new dawn had come, especially as former President Goodluck Jonathan had technically averted whatever thing that could have resulted in post-election crises.

After his inauguration on May 29th, 2015, everyone expected Buhari to hit the ground running. But there were snags here and there. That was the moment Buhari’s administration sowed the seed of doubt on the mind of many Nigerians. Unfortunately, this administration has not been able to lift these doubts of its good intentions.

Here are how and why.

Whatever a nation hopes to be is seen in the way the government relates with the people. From Day one, this government never had a clear direction. It has merely mouthed corruption fight and loots recovery but its performances have been less than expectations. Government could deliberately and consciously live above citizen’s suspicions and doubts. But Buhari’s government blew these opportunities. For instance, the school feeding program. How true is this program and the assertion that States in the country is benefiting from it? This program of government is seriously in doubt by many. Can the government as a panacea in getting herself free from this publish all schools (the community, the ward, the LAG and State) cited or verification by the indigenes of the same community. Can we as well know from the publish list, how much is given for the exercise and how many children the intervention daily feeds.

2. The various ‘Gates’: There have been so many ‘gates’ in Nigeria since the advent of this government. I need not list them as we are well aware of them. The question is, of all the ‘gates’, which of them has been closed and the gatekeeper shown the way to Kuje? I know that the supporters of this government will blame it on the Judiciary here. But the truth is, the Judiciary cannot provide more evidence for the case before them than the prosecutor. The government needs to urgently revamp its legal team on corruption if her fight against corruption is a true fight and not a key to shut in opposition.

4. The Executive/Legislative feud: Whatever the interest is, the truth is that none of the parties has the national interest on the mind. Should the Executive engage itself in the manner it does to the Legislative fight on national projects and development, surely, we would have been out of the present economic mess that we are as a nation.

The Way forward:

The Bible teaches much about good governance as the Old Testament expressed it in terms of right relationships between the ruler and the people as well as between the ruler and God. It also talks about what happens when this relationship of trust is broken. In the New Testament, we see it in the relationship between Jesus and his followers even to the level where by the religious and civil authorities of the time had to described harassment and persecution as a tool of covering their bad image in the face of positive criticism and outburst. These reflections from the Bible by people of faith offer many insights into our own times.

Reading Psalm 72, we see a prayer to God to guide the rulers of Israel. It offers an ideal governance model, focused on a relationship of care for the poor and vulnerable. Good governance is shown base on the principles of justice, righteousness and compassion, defending the rights of the poor and marginalised as well as protecting the people from conflict. Quoting from Isaiah 61, Jesus declares his manifesto for leadership in Luke 4.

The Nigeria past is still a memory to reflect on, her present is not very glorious as her past and her future remains a dream to be concerned with. But how the future of our dream will come to us depends solely on what we do today. What we need for tomorrow is to be planted today and what we expect to see is to be discussed today. The glory of tomorrow is actually resting on our today’s positive decisions and actions and vice versa.

                                          Rev. Edet E. Umo is a Presbyterian Minister, based in Abuja.