9th September, 2015
Ayodele Fayose
President Mohammadu Buhari’s government is now 100 days and eventhough I align with most Nigerians, who opined that 100 days is too short in the life of a government, it is important to make some clarifications regarding the administration.
This is more so that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and some political jobbers that are looking for appointments are praising the President, citing imaginary achievements.
As at today, the only achievement recorded by the President Buhari government is the harassment of leaders of the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) and those perceived as not on the same political page with the president in his party.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan and those who worked with him as well as PDP governors and leaders are now targets of harassment, and by this, the president is telling Nigerians that it does not pay to be honourable. Dr Goodluck Jonathan was honourable enough to allow apeaceful transition and conceded to the president even though it was obvious that his victory was questionable. Visiting such a person and those who worked with him with persecution as being done now, is no doubt a sad reminder of the reason we have many sit-tight leaders in Africa.
Interestingly, some of those who worked with Dr Goodluck Jonathan that the APC called thieves are now being appointed to manage the affairsof international organisations like the World Bank and African Development Bank.
LOPSIDED AND ILLEGAL APPOINTMENTS
In the last 100 days of President Buhari, appointments made have shown the president’s insensitivity to the ethnic diversity of Nigeria and contempt for the Constitution of the country.
The South-East has been totally neglected as if the likes of Dr Ogbonaya Onu who was earlier touted as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and others in the region do not merit appointments. This is unacceptable.
Appointment of Buhari’s in-law, Mrs Amina Zakari as Acting Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); APC member, Alhaji Lawal Daura as Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) and Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd) as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, clearly violated the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
ANTI-CORRUPTION CRUSADE
While I am in total support of the fight against corruption, it is my opinion that corruption can neither be fought along political party lines nor through the media.
What is being witnessed presently as fight against corruption is mere noise-making, witch-hunt and harassment of perceived political opponents of the president. This is more so that most of the political allies of the President and those who sponsored his election are also being accused of corruption and the president is looking the other way.
Most importantly, the Halliburton bribery scandal must be revisited.
INVASION OF AKWA IBOM GOVT HOUSE
The major sore-point of the 100 days of President Buhari is last Thursday invasion of the Akwa Ibom State Government House by armed men of the DSS.
Nigeria is a Federation, with 36 States Federating Units and in a federation, the component states are in some sense sovereign.
Therefore, what happened in Akwa Ibom Government House last Thursday was clearly a government (FG) authorising the invasion of another government (State Government). Even during the dark days of the Military, it never happened in Nigeria.
The invasion of Akwa Ibom State Government House by armed men of the DSS deserves condemnation from all men of good will, including State Governors. It was Akwa Ibom last week; it could be the turn of any other governor irrespective of political party tomorrow.
Today, we are also being informed that it will soon be the turn of Ekiti State. We await Alhaji Lawal Daura’s men, but we assure him that Ekiti people will always rise to defend their government.
CONCLUSION
I commend the president for his efforts at ending the Boko Haram insurgency and I wish to call on all Nigerians to support the President in restoring peace to the Boko Haram ravaged North Eastern part of Nigeria.
As we look forward to the end of the honeymoon of Buhari’s presidency, I wish to state that if supposed men of honour are going underground because of possible harassment and intimidation, I, Peter Ayodele Fayose, will not; because this is our fatherland.
Most importantly, those regarding President Buhari as a saint should know that he is not. The president is not also the Almighty God that cannot be questioned. After all, the beauty of democracy is in credible opposition.
As for me, I have been comfortable before I became governor and will not because of cheap publicity deceive Nigerians with declaration of cattle herds and mud houses as assets.
Today, I have expressed my mind concerning the 100 days of Buhari’spresidency as I did before the election. This I have done basically to remind Nigerians that I told them then, and it is happening now.
May God be with the President and bless Nigeria.
—Fayose is the Governor of Ekiti State