From London to Abuja in 50 days: Buhari’s return By Reuben Abati
The cities of
Daura -President Muhammadu Buhari’s home town, Kano - his political
base, and Kaduna -where he has a home, and where the aircraft that
brought him from London landed early Friday, March 10, as well as other
parts of the North saw the people trooping out to jubilate and thank God
for his safe return. I noticed that there was no such jubilation in the
entire South West, the East, the Middle Belt and the South South. This
is understandable.
Too
many cynics and mischief-makers in these other parts of the country had
expected the worst and they had been busy promoting the Acting
President Yemi Osinbajo as a better man in the President’s seat. The
manner in which President Buhari’s absence from the country seemed to
have divided the country emotionally is perhaps one of the saddest
outcomes of that experience. It was the longest period any sitting
President in Nigeria would stay away from office. But the really sad
news is that it again projected the ethnic differences within the
country.
The
fact that Buhari’s absence was due to illness raised anxieties on all
fronts about the economy and the country’s political prospects. Whereas
President Buhari had dutifully and lawfully excused himself and
delegated power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who became Acting
President, this created fresh and troubling problems on the political
front. Mischief-makers began to promote Osinbajo: comments appeared in
the social and traditional media, praising every step he took while his
boss was away.
Meanwhile,
his boss received more bashing than was the case at any other time
since he assumed office. Whoever managed or instigated that mischievous
media messaging process did Osinbajo a bad turn. One of the golden rules
of power is this: Never outshine the master! It is in fact the first
law of power.
While
Buhari was away, Osinbajo did, wittingly or unwittingly, and how
serious that was became obvious when a Buhari aide had to inform
Nigerians that there is a single Presidency and that Osinbajo, as Acting
President took instructions from his boss in London. It was a sorry
moment, with the President’s men trying to pull back the Acting
President’s men, and struggling so hard to preserve the President’s
image and hold on to power.
This
is why Sai Baba’s return is a game changer, and it probably explains
why his kinsmen trooped onto the streets in joy. I wouldn’t know if he
has returned against doctor’s advice, but we all know that he may still
have to go to back to London for further tests as he himself has
announced in a statement, but coming back at this time is a deft
political move. Things were beginning to get so bad, power was beginning
to slip out of Buhari’s hands. As the Osinbajo persona gained traction,
Buhari’s ratings further nosedived. When Buhari arrived this morning,
he changed the narrative. And watch every step that he took: he met with
the Executive Council of the Federation: a smart way of re-asserting
control. He shook hands with some Governors.
He
also issued a statement, which he personally signed. Within a few hours
of his return, he took steps that left no one in doubt that he intends
to remain in charge. I have seen power-game upfront at the highest
level. Nobody should be deceived. If there is any cabal in that Aso
Villa at this time, its members must be walking with a special bounce.
There was even a smiling competition among Buhari’s men in the Villa
today. Look at the photos. Some people smiled so much if their teeth had
fallen off in the process, they would have gladly attributed it to
occupational hazard.
One
of the laws of power is that you don’t take power and then allow other
people to seize the advantages. Buhari’s return has served one strong
purpose: to hold power and keep it where it belongs. But in another
strategic move, the man of power has made it clear that his Vice
President will continue to act while he recuperates. That is brilliant:
Looks like these guys in the Villa are beginning to learn how to play
chess. With Buhari inside the Villa, even for just two weeks, before he
returns to London if he does, he would have enough time to change the
calculus of power, including the traffic that may have built up in
another direction in his absence.
But Sai Baba don
spoil business for prayer warriors oh! I am actually wondering why I did
not listen to those friends who advised that we should also organize a
get-well prayer session for Buhari. You know-you get-you-understand what
I mean…that kind of prayer session that is an investment, with a
well-thought-out proposal. You get sponsors, make some money on God’s
behalf, publicise the prayer programme so well every important
Government official will notice.
I
thought this was thoroughly opportunistic, making money and enjoying
privileges off another man’s illness! But may be when Baba goes back to
London, I will weigh the options differently. More so as I can see with
my own eyes that those prayers may have worked. Buhari’s return, in this
heavily spiritual country, is probably clear evidence that God answers
prayers! And let us not blame those who think so, because there are
indeed people in this same country who wanted Sai Baba to remain on
medical exile. But at least, now that the President is back, the prayer
investors and their notice-me sponsors and those whose political careers
depended on the-President-phoned-me-from-L
President
Buhari has told everyone who may be planning a trip to Aso Villa on a
welcome-back visit to please stay off. Hi-an! Thank you, sir. Let people
stay where they are, I beg, and do their work instead of trooping to
Aso Villa to do eye service. And nobody should send gifts: in our
tradition, when a man is recuperating, it is normal to send packs of tea
(and Baba likes his tea!), cartons of milk and fruit juice and
biscuits, to ease the recuperation process. I beg make una keep una tea,
and other Greek gifts, Baba no want. And I think people should be told
not to place any adverts in the newspapers welcoming President Buhari
back to Nigeria.
The
man I sympathise with is Professor Yemi Osinbajo. He will now have to
tone down, roll back and generally stay in the shadows, even with his
boss saying he can carry on while he is still recuperating. How can he
carry on when the boss is back and on his feet? Can he possibly bear the
title of Acting President when the President is back in the Villa? He
and his team would have to do a quick re-set, both inside the Villa and
in the media. Right now, I do not envy them…as they manage the banana
peels of power.
And
now that President Buhari is back, it would be most appropriate to draw
his attention to many things that happened in his absence. Baba, while
you were away…some Ministers were busy making noise, some Nigerians were
busy wailing, some of them said you…you… the recession got worse, the
Naira effectively became a yo-yo, one actress left her husband and
started grumbling about STD, one house-boy in Big Brother Naija tried to
get fresh with TBoss and got booted out, there was two- fighting in the
PDP…No, I think I should let you enjoy your first day back home in 50 days. Here is a Yoruba song, which the wailers of the South West refused to sing to welcome you back. Enjoy it:
Kabo o o, kaa-aa-bo.
Kaaabo ooo, kaabo
Sai baba to t’ajo de o,
Kaa bo o
Baba wa to t’ajo de o, kaabo
I conclude: The fire next time…
No comments:
Post a Comment