President Muhammadu Buhari has declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019. Is his performance good enough for Nigerians to give him another chance? Are they satisfied with his efforts so far or are there areas that might pose some challenges to his second term dream? Assistant Editor, CHINWE MADUAGWU, reports.
The 2019 general elections is already taking the centre stage. Discussions, permutations, alignments and underground works geared towards the elections are on-going.
A good number of people have already declared their intentions to run for offices. Some of them are new ‘kids’ on the block while some have been around and active in the political space. One such person is the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, thereby ending speculations about his candidature in the election. Buhari made the declaration while on his way to the United Kingdom for the meeting of Commonwealth Nations.
Prior to the 2015 elections, which brought Buhari to office, he had contested the presidential election three times between 2003 and 2011. During the 2011 campaign, he was quoted as saying: “This campaign is the third and last one for me. I will not offer myself again for election into office of President.”
Of course, that he is president of the country today makes it clear that he reneged on his words. While contesting the 2015 elections, he explained, that he took the decision to run again because he was concerned about the nation’s deteriorating economy and security situation. He also said he would not seek re-election in the 2019 elections.
Yet, ten months to the elections, he has sounded his intentions loud and clear; he will run for the office of president again. His reasons or what the thrust of his campaign will be this time around is not yet known. However, a very strong point, perhaps the only pedestal, on which his 2015 campaign rested, was the fight against corruption.
Three years into his presidency, and with his declaration of interest in the up-coming elections, how much of a success has the president achieved in his set goals. Has he done enough to deserve a second term? Has he initiated programmes and projects that require his coming back to see them to logical conclusion?
A lot of people supporting his second term bid have gone as far as saying that Buhari is the only person that can solve Njgeria’s problems. But to the contrary, the question many would ask is, in a country of over 170 million people, is it possible that only one man would be in a position to deal with the nation’s problems?
In the views of Mr. Victor Omeni–Nzewuihe, a banker, the president does not deserve another chance because he has not delivered on his 2015 promises. “The corruption he said he was coming to fight that made people to vote him has become worse under his nose. The looters list is a big shame. It’s only a court that can declare someone a looter and recently, a court restrained the government from further publication of Uche Secondus’ name as a looter, while the EFCC lost two cases of looting against Patience Jonathan.“
The banker also has issues with President Buhari’s age. “Again, he is old and his brain can not coordinate things and this is the reason for giving off- point answers during interviews. In the recent interview where he said the youths are lazy, he was actually asked about the economy.”
READ ALSO: APC to change date of convention, congresses
Ms. Nelly Nwaka Ohuche, an On Air Personality equally doesn’t see any sense in President Buhari coming back because he has not acquitted himself in this dispensation especially in the areas of security and fight against corruption. She said: “The state of security in the country since the Buhari administration has taken a nose dive. A major part of the responsibility of Government towards its people is the protection of lives and properties of its citizens. Prior to this administration, we have had to grapple with insurgencies majorly in North-Eastern Nigeria. Unfortunately, in recent years, it has taken a scary dimension spreading to the Middle Belt with gruesome killings happening almost everyday.”
Ohuche is dissatisfied with the response of the president and his handlers to the security challenges and incessant killings in the country. For these reasons she strongly believes there should be a change of leadership in 2019.
“Unfortunately, the Buhari administration has done very little to assuage the fears of Nigerians. His response to insecurity has been appalling. The cries from former military Generals especially, is an indication that something is terribly not right. With the kidnap drama of the Dapchi schoolgirls, Nigerians are convinced that all is not well with them.
“The President’s handlers also have not been intelligent so far with either setting up an intelligent propaganda strategy or carrying out good PR to deal with the very many issues on their plate. With the most recent insinuation by the president hitting on the laziness of Nigerian youths at a platform where he was to make a big deal of the efforts and challenges of the Nigerian youths, it’s obvious his government is overwhelmed and confused as to what they really want with power. Judging by these, its obvious we need a government with clear cut plans on how to move Nigeria from where it is now, to where it should be. Nigerians deserve better,” she said.
Alhaji Rasaq Adewale Kasum, a US based Nigerian, has mixed feelings for Buhari’s second term bid. In his view, all hope should not be lost because if within the months before the elections, the president can correct some of the lapses of his administration, he may well be what the nation needs in 2019.
“I have a mixture of yes and no response to the issue of whether Buhari deserves a second chance. Whether we like it or not, PMB has instilled some financial disciple in the governance of the country. I really don’t want to tag along with those unsubstantiated allegations of financial misdeed against some of the officials in his government.
“However, because of the unresponsiveness of PMB to some security matters that have plagued his government, and the cult-like system of running his government as well as numbness on matters of national interest – herdsmen, kidnapping, shortage of petrol, accusation against some members of his cabinet, activities of his government etc., and of course one sided execution of war against corruption, I won’t support his coming back. But, if he could correct all these shortcomings then l will say yes to his second term aspiration.”
For Mr. Ifeanyi Obika, a business man, a second coming for Buhari would be a big mistake because he has not offered Nigerians anything in this present dispensation. His words: “I think the first term was a mistake. Some people keep talking about integrity but integrity alone is not enough to make one a leader.”
He drew an analogy with a family man to buttress his point. “If you have a family and you say you have integrity but, you don’t know how to put your life in order, you shouldn’t be a father.
“Buhari came in as an accident; he had nothing to offer the county and he has not offered the country anything. The corruption he said he is fighting is one sided. If you are corrupt and you join his party, you become untouchable. A second term for him will be a bigger mistake than his first one. People are dying everyday, everywhere. Look at Benue; two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers killed and he’s telling us they (herdsmen) are from Libya, and he allowed them to come all the way from there to kill our fellow citizens. I don’t think he deserves a second term,” Obika fumed.
Indeed it would appear that corruption and insecurity are the twin crosses that those opposed to the present government are hanging the president on. He chose his fights, it’s only fair then that he is judged by them. And the judgement has not been in his favour.
But with only ten months to the general elections, would there be enough time for President Buhari to address the problems of insecurity and corruption? Would he begin to dispose himself to the voices and yearnings of the people or doesn’t he need the votes? If votes must count, then, only time will tell.