By Yushau A.
Shuaib
In September
2009, about 9 years ago, this writer published an article title “If
Yar’Adua Doesn’t Die!” (http://yashuaib.com/politics/if-president-yaradua-doesnt-die/)
It was a response to strong insinuations in the media on the plight of President
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who was alive then but some commentators were already
expressing views on expectations after his likely demise.
We are currently
witnessing a similar scenario as the national discourse has shifted to debates
on the ailing or recuperating President Muhammadu Buhari who left the country
on January 19, 2017 for medical vacation in London after handing over power to
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to act as President.
The media is
awash with views of Nigerians as well as patriotic commentators over the
transfer of power and the commendable progress made so far in the absence of
Buhari. Meanwhile, spin-doctors and political manipulators, in their different
shades, have joined the debate, mostly on cyberspace. In some cases, the issue is
coloured in sectional sentiments, political undertones and religious
undercurrents.
In fact,
there have been gossips on the motives behind recent fasting by some Christians
in the South as well as speculations on massive prayers by some Muslims in the
North over the ill-health of the president. Some scenarios are disturbing, as some
comments attempt to create rift between Buhari and Osinbajo who have so far
shown maturity, sincerity and respect in their mutual relationship.
President
Buhari does not only trust Osinbajo, he assigns the law professor and church pastor
to oversee the economic sector as the Head of the Economic Team. In fact,
sensitive offices and strategic positions within that sector including the
Chief Economic Adviser are domiciled under the Office of the Vice President. In
more than two occasions, President Buhari has officially, through legislative
mandates, handed over power to Osinbajo to act as Nigerian President.
Aside from
the recent controversial and illegal disengagement of a female chartered
accountant, Mrs Maryam Danna Mohammed from Niger Delta Power Holding Company
(NDPHC) and the replacement of the boss of the agency with an aide of the Vice
President, Professor Osinbajo has demonstrated, to some extent, unquestionable
loyalty to President Buhari in his utterances and actions. A politically
conscious person, Osinbajo has not behaved otherwise. As a legal luminary, acting
President Osinbajo knows the implication of wilful disobedience to court orders
by Buhari’s administration, especially on several bails granted to some
personalities who are still being detained illegally, he nevertheless refused to
act or intervene professionally on the legal dilemmas probably to prove his absolute
loyalty to the administration. In tandem with the style and language of his boss,
Pastor Osinbajo has consistently re-echoed the message of the administration on
war on terror and the aggressive rhetoric on the anti-corruption campaigns.
As a loyal
public officer, Osinbajo has embarked on local tours and hosted several
meetings towards addressing seeming economic and socio-political challenges.
The deliberate efforts, in the absence of the president, have so far
strengthened local currency, the Naira, boosted oil production and stabilise
the polity. In most occasions, he insists that he is a representative of the
president. For instance, when he travelled to the heart of Niger Delta to
appeal against militancy, Osinbajo said he was there as an emissary of Buhari
to offer “a new vision” for the oil-producing region.
There is all
certainty that Professor Osinbajo would have sought the consent of his boss
and/or members of the Federal Executive Council in taking some of the
far-reaching decisions which are being commended. We should therefore encourage
the administration to be focused without creating a division between Buhari and
Osinbajo while making comparison.
There is always
the fear that political sycophants may feast on such divisive and distractive debates
to create avoidable complications which almost consumed two previous
administrations. The political imbroglio between President Olusegun Obasanjo
and Vice President Atiku Abubakar as well as cabal-infused impasse between
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan were
triggered by reckless sentiments from supporters
It is always
painful any insinuation that questions the loyalty of a subordinate and doubts the
strength and competence of the boss. Such a dilemma merely creates feeling of
betrayal and instigates a crisis of confidence that can distract and derail a focused
administration. In our clime, there is a thin line between sanity and insanity among
political fans (fanatics) whose supports are based on ethnic, religious and
sectional sentiments.
We should therefore,
support the brilliant strides of acting President Osinbajo in sustaining the
tempo of progressiveness and pray for the safe return of President Buhari to
carry on the task of greater nationhood.
Yushau A.
Shuaib
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