It seems Adolf Hitler was right after all. Those who champion the cause of revolution and lead men, are not men of letters but orators. Humans tend to respond more to emotion and expression than some coalition of alphabets written in ink. From Winston Churchill to Frederick Douglass, Cicero, Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Nnamdi Azikiwe , Tafawa Balewa to mention but a few, the power of an orator is not in doubt . Humans buy into great speech no matter the motive behind it and with a good delivery spiced with some dramatic acts, telling someone to jump off a cliff has never been easier.
The aura of deceit that greeted the last general elections was overshadowed by the sweet tales of Change. The synopsis of the charade wrapped as a ‘new beginning’ which was bought by the electorates seems to be unveiling itself even before it elapse the Pupae stage.
I must confess, the now ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) created a strategic campaign and I see the template being used in years to come. Campaign arenas were always filled with renewed energy and funfair; speeches were well delivered with great sense of determination and hope, and Bola Tinubu on most occasions was always around to add the final seasoning to the already aromatic atmosphere.
Nigerians went to the poll with lots of questions left unanswered; the most important being the ‘how’ the so much promised change will be achieved. A few countrymen and women who summoned up courage to ask this germane question were either labelled ‘enemy of progresses’ or ‘paid merchants’
Let me say at this juncture that it is indeed too early to begin criticizing the nascent government of Muhammadu Buhari.
After the general elections, some of us (the unofficial association of commentators) decided to take a break from the shenanigans of politics and enjoy the cool breeze that comes with the raining season. Take a stroll; go camping; try jogging and maybe, even skydiving –for those with the will to try such. Alas, the spirit of Veritas in us won’t give in to such.
President Buhari came with so much hope but his sudden metamorphosis into a Sloth sends a shockwave down the spine of some of us who though are skeptical about the overblown campaign promises, still nurse a benefit of doubt that the General will hit the ground running.
I could have sworn the that inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari will usher in an avalanche of political prisoners into the Nigerian Prison and I was not alone in this thought. Many who voted for Buhari didn’t do so because they wanted a man who will respect the rule of law and govern in accordance with the constrains of the constitution, if that was what they needed, the Goodluck Jonathan administration was already offering such medication in full dose.
Let us be sincere, Nigerians have been on their own for a very long time. Every time Nigerians place so much hope and confidence in a government, every of such times they get disappointed. From the days of Shehu Shagari to the accension of Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 and Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 each trust given was replaced with deceit, disappointment and betrayal.
We get carried away often with the sweet words and rhetoric of politicians that on most occasions we neglect to ask germane questions on the feasibility of their promises. They play often on our emotions and weaknesses and like a rain-beaten squirrel, we run to them for shelter.
Nigerians voted for a man who would break barriers. A Buhari who will resuscitate the era of War Against Indiscipline (WAI), after all, it was on that record he campaigned and made promises.
Disappointedly, the now democratic Buhari doesn’t appear as a man with such will.
For a man who has given tons of people the confidence that the lost treasure of our country will be restored, making frivolous traveling round the world and breaking bread with the Hyenas who would have made Libya out of Nigeria if given the slim opportunity indeed beneath his repute.
Each step Buhari scolded the Jonathan administration for during campaigns he now takes without remorse.
Now Buhari seems to have suddenly realized the constitution doesn’t permit anything less than thirty-six ministers in the Federal Executive Council even when he made a solemn declaration to cut down his ministerial list. For a man with a promise to cut frivolous government expenses and needless repetition of portfolios, the appointment of two spokesmen to perform a media representation duty shows a grand lack of direction and plan.
Visiting Chad, Niger and Cameroon to seek regional support in the war against Boko Haram no longer interprets to an affront on our integrity as he had earlier alleged against the last administration.
Buhari has also come to realize that the constitution doesn’t make it compulsory that he declare his assets publicly.
When Olusegun Obasanjo said in 2005 that ‘God in his infinite mercy, gave us a country. Resources of men and women who can stand on their own anywhere in the world’ my thought was that he was eulogizing the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians; that he was laying emphasis on our strong will to keep pushing and fighting even when there seems nothing left to fight for. I thought he was praising our never-say-die spirit. Now it has dawn on me that Obasanjo was only reiterating the notion of politicians about Nigerians. While they camouflage us with the doctrine of democracy and illusion of electing public office holders to serve our interest, what they truly offer in return is nothing but oyocracy- a government of thyself, by thyself, for thyself.
The narratives from the corridors of power seems to have changed. Most supporters and change advocates have suddenly turned philosophers; preaching patriotism, self-duty and responsibility to nationhood. If my memory serves me right, we have been giving that in millions for the past five decades. Telling Nigerians to pray and have faith is not only illogical but ‘Judastrous’. It is the zenith of treachery. Over fifteen million Nigerians didn’t queue in the scotching sun and rain to vote for prayers and neither did they show any deficiency in faith. In fact, they casted their vote in faith.
Promises were made without coercion, keeping them shouldn’t warrant long epistles.
For me, I have broken bread with patience but not silence. Like a Yoruba adage will say ‘Ohun to n tan, l‘odun egungun’ (The masquerade festival always come to an end).
There is still time for Muhammadu Buhari to retract his steps and make amends with his subconscious mind with which he campaigned. I hope he blocks his ears to the sweet rhythm of sycophants.
Adekoya Boladale wrote via adekoyaboladale@gmail.com. Please engage on twitter @adekoyabee and Facebook www.facebook.com/adekoyab
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