Editor’s note: Political analyst, Chidi Okoye, explained that the naivety of past administration is about to come to bear, with the present administration led by Muhammadu Buhari.
Story highlights:
– “So far, Nigerians are getting disappointed with the present government“.
– “Booting out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was expected to signal the end of bad times and beginning of good times“.
– “With the way things are, Buhari may not be able to keep his promise of running a clean government”.
This article expresses the author’s opinion only. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com or its editors.
A recent Facebook post by former President Goodluck Jonathan, in which he urged Nigerians to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its war against terrorists, elicited numerous comments that showed an interesting perspective.
BuhariThe Naivety That Produced Buhari
The predominant thread running through most of those comments was disappointment with the new government’s actions (or lack of) since it was inaugurated about five weeks ago.
Some of the comments were hilarious. With Yemi Ogunyemi stating: “It’s obvious I was hypnotised in voting and canvassing for Muhammadu Buhari in the last presidential election. I was not conscious of my actions”.
This sentiment is being echoed across various social media platforms and offline discussion groups. A Facebook post by one Chinedu Raymond was particularly tickling: “I have decided to turn a new leaf and never believe that government can solve my problem.
“I campaigned for change (the current ruling party’s slogan) but today an alleged Boko Haram sponsor is the Senate leader. Today, bombings have intensified. Today, our (abducted Chibok) girls have not been found”.
Several people who voted for Buhari are fast losing hope in his ability to turn things around. The president and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), campaigned with several socialist promises that are beginning to look quite impossible to keep.
A lingering internal crisis has exposed the APC as a party made up of people more interested in the spoils of office than the voters that put them in power. The president is yet to announce a cabinet after five weeks in office and has failed to inspire with several policy flip-flops.
The dreaded Boko Haram sect has ramped up its bombing spree, killing over 600 people in 27 attacks in just one month.
For many Nigerians, this is not the miracle that they expected. An impressive media campaign by the APC had presented Buhari as the messiah that would wipe off Boko Haram in a twinkle, eradicate corruption and provide jobs and cash for poor Nigerians.
Booting out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which had controlled federal power since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, was expected to signal the end of bad times and beginning of good times. The current inertia has therefore demoralised these Nigerians. And so, online and offline, they have begun to wail and curse.
These set of Nigerians are incredibly naïve. And it is this naivety that politicians will continue to capitalise on, to pool the wool over citizens’ eyes and leave Nigeria in a perpetual state of stagnation.
Any discerning Nigerian would have read the signs and been able to tell that Buhari and the APC will not be vastly different from Jonathan and the PDP. Same way most discerning Nigerians refused to believe the hype that Jonathan was “a breath of fresh air” when he became president five years ago. Ditto for Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. Why? It is the system, stupid!
The Nigerian system (made up of its laws, people and leaders) makes it impossible for anyone to turn this drifting country around. For as long as the system exists, no president will be able to address the rot and make the changes necessary for national growth.
This system means that Buhari, for instance, will be unable to keep his promise of running a lean government. It means that he will be unable to identify the 25 million poorest Nigerians that he plans to pay N5000 each. It means that he will be unable to pay unemployed graduates an allowance until they get jobs.
It means that Buhari will just be there for four years or eight years and leave just like his predecessors with no meaningful achievement to show for his time.
And the person that replaces him will also be voted into office on the strength of this naivety and a deep-rooted desire by Nigerians for a messiah.
READ ALSO: Buhari Clashes With Senate Again
The person will campaign with several promises, akin to the salvation being peddled in the millions of churches that have turned sanctuaries for gullible Nigerians. And because life is so hard, many will dare to hope and sign up. The circle of absurdity will continue as naive Nigerians continue to wait for Godot.
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