“The party in power, like Jonah's gourd, grew up quickly, and will quickly fall”. - Davy Crockett
When
Udoka married his fourth wife(Essien-awan), he felt he had arrived at
heavens gate. So happy was he that unlike others before her, he never
bothered to ask nor find out about the necessary things, not even those
glaring flaws mattered to him. The wedding IV had 'better option' boldly
written on it, to announce to the world that Udoka had found love. Just
six months into the marriage, Udoka realised why other men had hitherto
avoided marrying Essien-awan like as plaque but it was too late....
Like
Udoka, Nigerians have in one year realised the sweet promises made by
president Buhari during the presidential campaigns were nothing but
outright deceit. So naive were those who saw president Buhari as an
epitome of change, that they all found a way to believe outrageous
things like “using the army to stabilize the economy” and that “one
naire could equal one dollar” in four years. Things that ordinarily
should elicit laughter were defended by palmwine intellectuals; alas the
messiah got the job and the demystification began rightaway. In 366
days(25% of a four year tenure) the Buhari administration cannot point
to ONE thing it has achieved. The funniest part is how the government
effortlessly makes its online team of media volunteers look like clowns.
These group of individuals spend hours/days defending things as ordered
by Aso rock, only for the official spokesmen to later debunk the same
news. Until recently, I never knew rice cooked in Abuja could have
intoxicating effect!
If
the Buhari led administration has not only achieved NOTHING in these
366 days, it would be consoling but they have taken Nigeria backward by
over 20 years. How else can one explain the fact that rice which in the
last five years could easily be afforded by any class of Nigerian has
become unaffordable; the days when families took rice to be a special
meal for Sunday afternoons are here again.
Data
from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics show that in only 5 months of
the year 2016, over a million Nigerians have become unemployed. This on
its own would have been pushed under the shelve if this government did
not deceive Nigerians with the promise of creating 3 million jobs within
its first year in office. Now if close to the same number of people
have lost their jobs within this period, the question then is, if/when
the government eventually begins it's job creation, will they start with
those who've recently lost their jobs or those who were never employed?
To add insult to injury, minister who's son is a house of Assembly
member, paid with tax payers money suggested people should start
dressing masqurades to earn a living,1000 persons per masqurade; that is
the mindset of a minister in a 21 century nation. As a matter of
fact, it is impossible for one to believe most of the ministers have an
idea of the millinieum they live in; how do you explain a minister
saying we should import grasses from Brazil and another projecting that
Nigeria will be producing pencil by 2018. Pathetic indeed.
As
for the economy, there's no denying the fact that it's been on a steady
decline all year. For the first time since 2004 GDP fell to -0.34%.
Defenders of the president are quick to say the economy was only being
'patched' by the last administration, as silly as this sounds, the
government of the day should ask the previous government what kind of
abbressive it used to keep the economy in place. An administration
where the finance minister, CBN governor and vice president push
different economic policy stands, just does not have a direction. While
the divisive CBN governor held sway at Nigeria's apex bank, inspite of
his antagonism towards his boss, at least on economic matters he and the
finance minister were always in sync; not the 'madhouse' we see today. I
suppose, the army can do a better job towards stabilizing the economy,
why the president isn't using them as promised I know not!
During
the campaigns stories were told of how prudent the president is, that
he cannot wait to start slashing government expenditure. A look at the
presidency's budget shows an 18 billion Naira increase from that of
2015. The president has not missed any opportunity to go abroad, no
matter how irrelevant the reason - how these uncountable trips result in
cutting expenses, I know not. President Buhari still maintains 11
private jets, the very same ones his handlers said he would sell off on
his first day at work. The president has budgeted 3.9 billion to
renovate the same Aso rock that was renovated before he moved in; who
knows maybe a part had collapsed without Nigerians knowing. The
president we were told is so poor that declaring his assests publicly
will not be an issue, the macabre dance that has accompanied his public
assest declaration is a story for another day. The president now so
enjoys affluence that implementing the Oransanye report is a no go
area.
General Buhari
both as a candidate and president has made comments that leave one in
awe. Starting with his claim that subsidy does not exist, only for him
to now claim he cannot pay subsidy anymore, to referring to some
Nigerians as 5% and has tried in all his actions to undermine that
section of the country, to his declaration that oil exploration in
Nigeria started after the civil war, to his declaration the muderers
known as fulani herdsmen are not Nigerians[one wonders if the president
is Awre that he openly admitted his failure to protect his territory
from intruders.], to his silence over the killings perpertreted by
these foreigners “who will have nowhere to go if chased from the south”.
Each time the president speaks, one wonders which new ridiclue the
nation will face.
The
Buhari administration in just one year has shown utter disregard for
the rule of law. From something as simple as appointing an MD of NDDC in
line with sections 3 and 12 of the NDDC act, to gross abuse of rights
of individuals. People being held in contempt of courts, individuals who
in most cases willingly honoured the invitations of government
agencies. The president has become a law to himself. He decides who he
will set free and when, yet still expects people to honour invitations
from security agencies. (One wonders how brutal the president will get
in an election year). To the president judges know nothing and should
do as he wants but he went to court to stop the NLC from embarking on
strike. Hypocrisy at the highest level of a nation's government.
Since
May 29 2015, the Buhari led government has done nothing to improve the
security situation in the country. From 'Libyan' fulani herdsmen, to
kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and armed robbery has increased all over
the country. The president boast that as a military man, 'all criminals
will bow to him' has come to nought.
Meanwhile,
it is evident the president's comment on 97% and 5% was not mere
rhetoric. From appointments and possibly contracts award, the president
has not hidden how tribalism. His recent appointments of heads of
paramilitary agencies, leaves no one in doubt that the 'north has taken
over'.
Six months
after the 'wedding of the town', Udoka found out why Essien-awan had
three previously broken engagements. His life became a nightmare, the
heir he hoped she would bring was nowhere to be found. Despite all he
was going through, he never ceased to defend his wife(even when she
starved him of the needful). Why wouldn't he, when she had placed him
safely in a clear bottle inside Inyang-ekpri-ndito.
Sadly Udoka like Nigerians thought he had found a better option.
Happy Democracy Day Nigeria.
Enenim Ubon tweets from @EnenimUbon
