Buhari’s first week at work and all the dramas

At the Aso Rock, last week went by just like seven weeks ago before President Muhammadu Buhari left the shores of the country to London.

The week however, ended on a somewhat exciting note.

Since returning from London, the President has had to take things easy while working. Once again, it was difficult to rest properly on Sundaynight with thoughts of Monday morning heavy on my mind. It turned out that I was not the only one who wanted to be sure that President Buhari who returned to the country after being away for 50 days was

going to resume at work on Monday morning.

It is no secret that the President looked frail on his return raising some concerns that he really wasn’t fit to resume work, but he did.

Journalists turned up early enough and waited, asking almost every official who passed the corridors if the President was actually turning up that morning. Of course, he did turn up, at about 11.30am and walked to the office.

We were glad to see him come back and like other Nigerians, we had expectations and set agendas for him. I can’t say why, but in my head, I had the picture of him coming back and taking it right from where Vice President Osinbajo left off, especially after learning that he has to go for another medical review in a few weeks. There is nothing

wrong with expectations right? It didn’t quite turn out that way. I can imagine that he spent his first week at work going through files, resting and catching up from where he left off. He must also have been excited with the news of the naira gaining some form of stability and the decline in the inflation rate.

Excuse my hyperactive nature. For seven weeks my adrenaline pumped, it was exciting to see people actually working. As you know Osinbajo is a

confirmed workaholic and his wing at the Aso Rock was a beehive of activities everyday besides the weekends when he decided to grace occasions that keep him connected to his everyday relationships.

You know, I previously heard some of his aides joking about how he wanted to please everyone. “Oh Chief so and so’s daughter is getting married, let’s go there, that church is having their men’s day, I have to be there” he would say and they will have to take him there without proper arrangement including protocol and security. One of them mentioned that his motivation is that one day he will be done from

office and go back to those same friends. I totally agree.

So, at the weekend following the president’s return, everyone rested including Osinbajo and his aides.

Back to our main discourse. Tuesday went by quickly and I noticed a slight change. We (journalists) kept looking out for the ambulance,

that used to be our way of determining if the President was in the office or not. This time the ambulance was a decoy, but I found out the new trick, relax I will share another time. I just know that he closed way earlier than his usual 4 pm but it’s ok right? We need him to rest well and get stronger.

While the Presidential Villa wore a sombre look on Monday and Tuesday,Wednesday’s FEC meeting and Thursday’s National Economic Council

meeting brought some life. Besides, I am hoping that our President is taking his time to treat files left on his table while he was away.

On Wednesday, I rushed into the Council Chambers alongside other journalists to witness the pre-Federal Executive Council meeting and it was interesting to once again feel the military part of President

Buhari. Osinbajo got into the council chambers at about 9:58 am while the President walked in at exactly 10 am. I also noticed that no matter what he went through in London, I mean during his vacation the President did not lose his sense of humour.

After the national anthem, a mild drama ensued. The president nominated the minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi to offer the Christian prayer and after he did, Buhari then said: “I have not seen

Lai”, referring to the minister of information and in return Lai shouted “I am here Sir”, sounding like a primary school pupil. Other members of council broke out in laughter as the President asked him to

offer the Muslim prayer.

Well, not unexpected, the meeting lasted for about an hour thirty minutes. Unfortunately, I heard some aides rejoicing that since it wasn’t the VP presiding over the meeting they would close early.

Surely, that seven hours FEC meeting held some weeks back must have counted for something.

On Thursday, the President braved it again to meet with members of the NEC, which included all 36 state governors (or their deputies) and shook hands with them, then they went into a closed-door session. Initially, I thought the governors were going to pay the President a visit in his office but he came to them. Whatever discussion they had

behind those heavy mahogany doors would have gone thus “we missed you, welcome back, these are our problems and they said only you could give

the order”. And viola, a statement dropped in our email boxes saying, the President has ordered the minister of finance and the governor of the central bank to release the second tranche of the Paris debt refund.

They smiled home while I silently prayed that this time they will listen to the President’s advice and pay salaries.

Mr. governor, please pay your workers, stop wearing fine garbs and employing a hundred aides and pay the ones already grinding out for you.

So, this week the media space was filled with so much drama from the President’s kitchen cabinet and a show of lack of camaraderie between

the executive and legislative arm of government. Yes, I mean the drama that preceded the Senate’s refusal to confirm the Acting Chairman of

the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the uniform saga with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (my

colleague will tell you all about it).

Coincidentally, as I was writing, Magu walked through the corridor and headed to the mosque for the Juma’at prayers, where he prayed

alongside the DG DSS, NSA, and other heads of agencies. He later left with the NSA. Well, the President’s media office has continued to

maintain that the President is still waiting for an official letter from the National Assembly informing him of their decision, then he will take the next steps. From the look of things, Magu will occupy

that office until the President is satisfied that he is actually culpable.

I am inclined to believe that before all these dramas embarrass the president anymore than it already has, he will fix his house. It is too much of a burden and a distraction he doesn’t need; we wait to see his next moves.

 

Elizabeth Archibong