President Muhammadu Buhari delivering Democracy Day Lecture on May 28 2018 at the Abuja ICC
Why President Buhari’s Democracy Day speech ‘fell flat’
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday morning addressed the nation to mark the country’s Democracy Day, 18th year of unbroken democracy in the country. But Buhari’s speech, instead of inspiring the people, did the opposite. Respondents on the media space said the speech ‘fell flat’.
Reason is because Buhari failed to comment on the status of critical national issues bordering on security like his administration’s effort to rescue the lone Dapchi schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu, who is still in Boko Haram’s captivity on account of her Christian religion.
Buhari also failed to talk about the issue of wide-spread corruption within his administration.
He also did not speak on the status of the over 100 Chibok girls still with the Boko Haram over four years after they were kidnapped.
Instead, Mr Buhari chose a blanket celebrate the ‘degradation’ of the Boko Haram.
Miss Sharibu was one of the 110 girls abducted by Boko Haram from Dapchi Government Science and Technical School, Yobe State, on February 21.
About 33 days after their abduction, the sect released 104 of the girls. Five were said to have died while Miss Sharibu was said to have been held back because she refused to denounce her Christian religion.
Expectations are high especially from Christians, who have accused Mr Buhari of not doing enough to secure the release Miss Sharibu.
“Today, the capacity of the insurgents has been degraded leading to the re-establishment of authority of government and the release of captives including, happily, 106 Chibok and 104 Dapchi girls, and over 16,000 other persons held by the Boko Haram,” Mr Buhari said in his Democracy Day Speech.
Also on Friday, President Buhari failed to get the peoples’ confidence when he said that the rampaging killer herdsmen and other criminal elements terrorising all parts of the country will be fished out and be made to face the full wrath of the law.
This is because the administration has not showed enough willingness to tackle insecurity especially bringing the Fulani herdsmen to justice.
He said, “The unfortunate incidences of kidnappings, herdsmen and farmers clashes in several communities which have led to higher number of fatalities and loss of properties across the country is being addressed and the identified culprits and their sponsors shall be made to face the full wrath of the law. All the three tiers of Government are presently engaged with communities and religious organizations to restore peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.
“I want to commend members of the Multinational Joint Task Force drawn from Niger, Benin, Chad, Cameroon and our own country in collaboration with the International Community who are assisting in the fight against insurgency in the North East. I also commend the gallantry of members of our Armed Forces and other security agencies that have continued to provide security for lives and properties across the country. State and Local traditional authorities are helping with much needed intelligence in this fight against insurgency.
“This administration is pained over the grievous loss of lives and properties occasioned by the carnage of insurgency and other forms of criminality in the country. I wish to assure Nigerians that we will not rest until all criminal elements and their sponsors are brought to justice. Government is boosting the capacity of our security agencies through recruitment of more personnel, training and procurement of modern equipment, enhancement of intelligence gathering as well as boosting their morale in the face of daunting challenges.” he added.
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