Last week, precisely May 29, 2019, Nigeria stepped into the much talked about Next level, following inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for a second term in office. The ceremony took place at the Eagle Square in Abuja amidst tight security and was described as low-keyed.
To some dignitaries that graced the occasion, Nigerians should support the President so that the country could make progress. And although the absence of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan was conspicuous, two former heads of state, Yakubu Gowon and Abdusalam Abubakar, graced the ceremony.
Also in attendance were the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole; National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu; a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; a former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; chieftains of the APC and some members of the immediate past cabinet of President Buhari.
The oath of office was administered on the duo by the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, who was assisted by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hadizatu Mustapha.
And that was it! The president did not make any speech after his swearing in, which will be the first time in the history of the nation, and perhaps any nation for that matter, that a leader would just walk away without addressing the people after being so decorated.
What President Buhari simply did on Wednesday was to leave the venue of the swearing in immediately after inspecting the Guards of Honour and acknowledging cheers from the crowd. He had no words of inspiration, hope or promises for a people that have been mostly battered by poverty, diseases, insecurity and all manner of issues the past four years he had held sway as president.
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And ever since, tongues have been wagging as most Nigerians argue that the president, with all the challenges confronting the nation, should have used the occasion to instill hope, give assurances that his government connects and feels the pains of the people.
Or to even use the occasion to confirm the now waving-making excuse that his inauguration speech would be delivered on June 12, now formally declared as Democracy Day. But then, June 12 is what it is while May 29 remained the inauguration day.
Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had however in a chat with newsmen, said President Buhari’s inauguration for a second term would be a low-key affair and that some events slated for the day would be held during the first observance of June 12 as the National Democracy Day for Nigeria.
Nonetheless, this cannot explain away the president’s silence to the nation, May 29, which is why some opposition political parties led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expectedly, faulted the development, describing it as disrespectful. Nowhere in the world would a leader feel he owes the people no words after such occasion. Or could it be, really, that he had nothing new to offer the country?
Surprisingly and as bad as this could be, there are still some people, who ought to know better, coming out in public to defend what obviously is indefensible.
A government should inspire, build hope and not show disdain for the people as portrayed by the president’s mum on Inauguration Day. A government must at all times communicate and connect with the people. And it is during such occasions like inauguration that great leaders make great statements. And let’s not forget that late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua told the world that the election that brought him to power was marred by irregularities on his inauguration day.
He went on to promise that his administration would improve on the process, and although he did not live to see that through as he died in office two years later as a result of ill health, his Vice, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who succeeded him, went on to introduce some reforms to the electoral system.
It is therefore an irony of fate, and very unfortunate too, that President Buhari, who benefitted from this improved process, would turn round to act in manners that would seem as if he is abusing the same system by looking down on the people that entrusted him with power.
Indeed, President Buhari is said to have lowered every bar of democratic tenets and many wonder what is low-key about a celebration where a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 560 car was allegedly unveiled by the President.
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 560 (Maybach) was part of the fleet of cars that brought him to the Eagles Square for the swearing-in ceremony and is reported to have been specially designed for the president with special features like Active Parking Assist, Multicontour Front Seats w/Massage Feature, Surround View Camera, Active Lane Change Assist, and Traction control.
The cost of the car and the fact that the president didn’t really need to change his old car, which they claim is still in good shape at this time of economic hardship, has been subject to all manner of debates on social media.
But that is not much the issue here as the president walking away from the event without a single word for the people he leads, a development that might suggest he did not believe he was elected by Nigerians, who in turn do not deserve to hear from him, according to opposition political parties.
National chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, for instance, does not see the inaugural silence as golden since the occasion, naturally, offered the president an avenue to appreciate citizens for their patience and perseverance since he assumed office, four years ago.
“Many Nigerians were killed in the last four years, hundreds lost their jobs, pensioners not paid and we also lost our sons and brothers in the armed forces as a result of the terror war.
“Hearing words of assurance and comfort from their commander-in-chief would have served as the needed tonic and also as the expected balm that would attempt at healing their wounds. But instead, what did they see or hear from a man they have expected so much from? Nothing! Maybe he felt he owed Nigerians nothing,” Secondus said.
Similarly, Social Democratic Party (SDP) National Publicity Secretary, Alfa Mohammed, argued that the president may have acted in accordance with the sadness he alleged was pervading the country.
“You only appreciate people when you are sure that the people’s efforts put you in that position. The President might think that he did not owe Nigerians any appreciation and so did not express appreciation.
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“The current mood in the nation is not that of celebration. He might have also caught the bug of the sadness pervading the country. There is poverty and insecurity among others. People are afraid to travel home now. I think Nigerians are not in the mood for any celebration and the President is probably aware of this too,” Mohammed concluded.
And coming from the African Democratic Congress ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Yemi Kolapo, the President must have refrained from giving a speech because he had no plan for Nigerians.
She satirically added that Buhari could have decided to keep mum because he knew that his election was still being contested at the tribunal.
“He might have also refused to give any speech because he realised that it is a stolen mandate, the court has not cleared him and so he did not want to jump the gun,” she said.
Everywhere you turn to, the feeling is that of disappointment as most Nigerians by this latest action, feel even more disconnected with a government they obviously gave a second chance, albeit, reluctantly. And to many, it equally goes to depict the level of insensitivity and contempt the Buhari government has for the people.
Elected leaders everywhere in the world address their people during inauguration and at the slightest opportunity they get – to make commitments and unfold their governance direction.
And in Nigeria today, there are so many critical issues the people would have loved to hear their president addressed on his inauguration for second term, having not made much impact in his first tenure.
Sadly, that was not to be as the president chose to keep mum on a day as very important as his Inauguration Day.
