The Presidency on Saturday defended its choice of time of the airing of the documentary on President Muhammadu Buhari.
Titled The Human Side of President Muhammadu Buhari and billed to be aired on Sunday, the documentary is said to be a reflection of the other side of the president.
It is a production of the media department of the State House, Abuja.
Critics have, however, derided the Presidency over the timing of the airing of the documentary, saying it was wrong to have come at a time when the country was groaning under the pains of fuel scarcity.
But responding to the criticism, the Presidency said the release of the documentary was to spice the holiday season.
“It’s a spice for the holiday and not even ephemeral fuel crisis would dampen the enthusiasm of positive minded Nigerians,” said Femi Adesina, the president’s media aide, in a statement issued on Sunday and made available to The Next Edition.
He further explained that life should not continue to be about stories of doom, hence the decision to go ahead despite the artificial fuel scarcity.
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He stated: “The reactions mainly dwell on the fact that a documentary showing the human side of the President (as against the well known iron and steel) is coming at a time there is severe fuel scarcity in the country. And I say, why not? Is life all about doom and gloom? Must we sit in ashes and wear sackcloth perpetually, and ignore the brighter side of life? God forbid!”
He explained that the current fuel crisis was a combination of Situation Normal All Fouled Up in the distribution process of petrol (which the NNPC admitted at the onset of the problem), and deliberate mischief and sabotage by some marketers, who wanted to force the hands of government to increase the pump price.
He added that the situation was further compounded by hoarding of products, and panic buying.
According to him, “government is working round the clock to restore normalcy, which will come in a matter of time.”
Arguing that it would be wrong to be bugged down by the fuel crisis, he said: “Despite the temporal pains, life must continue, and we must look at the cheery side, while government works hard to bring succour.”
“That is why I disagree with armchair critics, who wail at the drop of a hat. Millions of Nigerians appreciate President Buhari, love him passionately, and would watch the airing of the documentary, which shows the President in a perspective not very well known before,” he added.
