Too many interesting things are happening in Nigeria at the same time. The personalities involved and what they say, do, or refuse to do agitate the minds of many Nigerians. For instance, it was curious that the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, made a sharp turnaround, telling Nigerians to go to farms. The question is, which farm? President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in Lagos last week to celebrate Salah; his house was turned into a Mecca of sorts. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in the news the other day as he visited Oluremi Tinubu on Salah Day. But was the visit aimed at something else? Just think aloud!
Is Buhari now an agriculture professor?
Everybody in Nigeria today points to Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years—from 2015 to 2023—as the darkest period in Nigeria since 1999. From insecurity, economic mismanagement, a high level of unemployment, and wanton killings across the country, the consensus is that his eight-year reign was a disaster.
Even the current administration that is under his party still refers to his tenure in office as the years of locusts and caterpillars.
The delinquent economy that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is battling to keep steady today was caused by Buhari’s inefficient management and laissez-faire attitude towards important state matters.
“It was during his regime that many farmers abandoned their farms; many of them lost their lives on their farms.”
One year after leaving behind a shattered economy compounded by the inability of citizens to access their farmlands as herdsmen have since chased them away, Buhari has now put on a toga of professor of agriculture.
He is lecturing Nigerians on the need to go to their farms. The question to ask is, “Which farms?”
A good number of farmers are now in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)’ homes across the country, and the government is spending a lot of money to take care of them in those settlements. Their inability to go back to their farm for cultivation has endangered food security in Nigeria. This was as a result of the monsters President Buhari allowed to fester when he occupied the exalted seat in Abuja as president.
During the Sallah, a statement was issued in his name. What did he say? “Let me use this occasion to make an appeal to all citizens to make Nigeria self-reliant. Let us grow our own food. We have shown that we can do it. This is not the time to relent when we see prices going up. Let us buy what is produced in the country.”
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Can you beat that? This was the same man when, as president, whenever farmers cried out over the constant harassment and killings from invading herdsmen, he was always looking the other way.
It was during his regime that many farmers abandoned their farms; many of them lost their lives on their farms. Women were molested before their husbands by the invaders. The sanctity of young ladies was vulgarised right in their own homes. At that time, Buhari was telling the natives to accommodate their invading killers in order to enjoy peace.
His body language towards the killings warranted the then governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, to pointedly accuse him of sponsoring the killers. It was also this allegation that made the Presidency at that time declare Ortom persona non grata in Aso Rock. These things are still fresh in our memory.
The monsters that were cultured in his administration are still on rampage across the country. So, what moral high ground does the former president have to advise a return to agriculture when the mines that were laid in the farmlands in his days are still potent? Or was it just to say his voice was heard during the Salah? Too bad!
Tinubu’s house turned into a Mecca of sorts.
Kai! Power in Nigeria is sweet. See how everybody has been gravitating towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu these past few days? Everybody wanted to show his or her face. Even those who had not gone to the mosque before became emergency Muslims, just to say, “I dey here, ooo.”
Governors abandoned their duties in their various states to be with the President in Lagos on behalf of their states. The leadership of the National Assembly emptied itself into Lagos.
The visitors said they came to Lagos to pay homage to the president. This is the same president who lives in Abuja, where the National Assembly leaders see him whenever they want. Do not forget that such “official” junketing attracts out-of-station hefty allowances. This is happening at a time when the Federal Government and organised labour are in a “mortal kombat” over the minimum wage.
The question observers are asking is, “Why are we like this in this country?” This does not happen in any well-run society. What business has the leadership of a National Assembly travelling outside the capital to another place to visit a president who has gone to celebrate a religious ceremony?
Why must the country stand still because the president is celebrating? It is these same leaders who are saying that the payment of N62,000 as the minimum wage is unsustainable. They may be correct in their argument, but their actions belie their pronouncements. How would Labour be convinced that there is no money to pay workers a living wage when there is so much merriment and sheer wastage around the government? Just think aloud!
Obasanjo’s ‘Nicodemus’ visit to Oluremi
Many years ago, Nicodemus, an important figure, a Pharisee, and a member of the Jewish ruling council, decided to visit Christ at night to avoid the prying eyes of the public. He indeed met with his host and had his nagging questions answered.
Last Monday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo made a visit to Oluremi Obasanjo, the first lady of Nigeria. It was not in the dead of night, though. But the visit could be considered Nicodemus-like, as observers said it was intended to open up a channel of communication with the President himself.
Although she is the wife of the President, Oluremi is a known pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). It is curious why Obasanjo should visit her during Salah.
Read also: Obasanjo advocates single-digit loan for farmers
Mind you, the visit has since set off varied reactions from many Nigerians. The consensus opinion is that the former president must be looking for something beyond Oluremi.
Recall that a video of Obasanjo wearing a cap branded with Tinubu’s insignia at an event attended by some African dignitaries had trended on social media recently. So, what is cooking?
Obasanjo and Tinubu are not known to be the best of friends, politically. They have never belonged to the same political party.
I hope you still remember the standoff between the duo when Obasanjo refused to release the funds meant for Lagos State’s local governments.
Obasanjo had insisted that the Federal Government would not pay the seized funds until elections were held in 20 constitutionally recognised local government councils in Lagos State.
The then-federal government had frowned at the creation of 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) by the Tinubu administration in Lagos.
The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, said in an interview some years ago that the seizure of local government funds by the Obasanjo administration contributed to the slow pace of development in Lagos State.
Again, Obasanjo did not hide his support for Peter Obi in the last presidential election. He believed that an Obi presidency would benefit the country more. It is not on record that he has changed his stance.
Although his moves this time around have continued to raise a lot of questions, critical observers say that politicians are never perpetual enemies, irrespective of their political differences or what they try to make the public believe. What is always at stake is interest.
They still flock together and laugh over their decisions in the corridors of power. Today, even politicians seen on camera engaging in hot arguments and coming near to fisticuffs do embrace one another after such heated sessions.
Perhaps Obasanjo’s latest moves and gravitation towards Tinubu may be a manifestation of the spirit of big brotherliness. Tomorrow will tell.
