IF THIS BE THE CHANGE, THEN IT IS UNINTERESTING.
By James Onyebuchi C.
I managed to survive the heart attack that almost greeted me at the pre-declaration of President Buhari as the number one citizen of Nigeria. Well documented and even flying on air are my ills towards the person of Buhari and the platform on which he ran for his Presidency. But he is the president. It could not be more or less than this. So, it was imperative upon me to adjust since I could not and am incapable of changing the situation - He is indeed my President. But my expectations were high.
The antiphon in between the APC's litany of promises or in the main, that underlined the numerous campaign promises of APC was 'changi' (change). Nigerians, apparently, needed, beckoned and voted for change. And Hallelujah to the heavens (though it could possibly not be), change came and is here. But the question is: How far change? My expectations are still high.
APC, by all means clinched to power. The tune suddenly changed. They began to realise that Nigeria's problems are so numerous that they could not be solved just in four years. Even the Messiah himself realised that he never had such miraculous powers that could in a few years put Nigeria to glory and to the jealous of the whole world. My expectations began to loose strength.
When the erstwhile president Jonathan called for patience from Nigerians, the word was immediately mistaken for a vice and as such impossible amongst Nigerians. Oh, the right man; the Nigerian messiah; Buhari then asked for patience, then it became a virtue. Nigerians clapped their hands and celebrated this. Much was to come in and out of third antiphon - 'I belong to Nobody and to everybody'.
The inauguration came. Undoubtedly and as expected, drew men of value across and within borders. Almost all, renewed their pledge and support for the newest government. Nigerians congratulated him. Oh! His directions to relocate the defence headquarters to Borno was a sign that actions have begun. Change has begun. My expectations were enlivened.
Ecstasy became the oxygen 'almost' every Nigerian breathed. The inauguration speech became a point of discourse among the electronic media commentators. But people like me who made the word "almost", possible as used above, saw nothing different in both the ceremony and the speech. Thanks to Balarabe Musa, the former governor of old Kaduna for not being driven by the illusive 'changi'. His skepticism was unambiguously pronounced. For him, there was no fundamental difference or quantum shift in the system, government and even person. His words seem to carry weight as the events that followed up days after the inauguration confirmed his point.
Saturday came, Sunday and up till this moment, key officials are yet to be named. Presidential fleet came to function and usefulness. What Jonathan did when he reached out for regional aid in the fight against Boko Haram which Many Nigerians including the incumbent condemned, turned around to be the right thing. The rate at which Bombs are detonated even at the powerful and evocative sound of second the antiphon 'Sai Buhari' became wild.
The one reigning now is the asset declaration which in my opinion in unnecessary and already blown out of proportion. If he lies in the declaration, will I know? Just few days ago, it was discovered that Buhari has a property at Asokoro in Abuja which worths about 2Billion of Naira. So what about the only 2 bedroom house at Daura? My expectations wane.
Some people started returning from their self exile. And others submitting themselves to EFCC. Festus Keyamo, a learned wig, and an advocate to Fed. Government on the corruption charges against former governor Sylvia washes his hands off the case even as the federal government withdrew the case. My expectations water down all the more.
I do not wish to waste time over the events unfolding in the APC over the leadership of the 8th Senate. Tuesday will settle the matter.
But wait! This is a week and two days. What has changed? If anything, does it or do they interest you? For me, the topic of this writing have answer to this question. How about you?
#Godwin
