Editors note: As Nigerians look forward to a new dawn in the administration of their newly sworn President, Muhammadu Buhari, a lawyer has picked holes in the first speech delivered by Mr. President. He wrote on Sahara Reporters.
Article Highlights
– The President has not addressed the real issues affecting our lives in Nigeria
– It would seem that the President is still on the soap box, whereby promises and promises and intentions, are the order
– Buhari would have outlined his main policy direction. But alas, that has not happened today
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of our source, its editors or other contributors.
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“I have read the Inaugural Speech of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.), delivered immediately after his swearing in. It is gratifying that General Buhari has vowed to tackle the rot in the power sector, even though he did not give any direction on how to do that. By and large, it is my view that the President has not addressed the real issues affecting our lives in Nigeria.
It would seem that the President is still on the soap box, whereby promises and promises and intentions, are the order. He is the President of Nigeria now and my expectation was that since March 28, 2015, when he won the election, when he received the certificate of return from INEC, when he got assurances from Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, that his election would not be contested, General Buhari would have outlined his main policy direction. But alas, that has not happened today.
For instance, the President did not say anything on his foreign policy directive, on issues relating to global warming and climate change, the violence in the Middle East and the general global economic downturn. Also, the President was silent on the mode of tackling corruption, which indeed has been the main thrust of his electioneering campaigns; he was silent on the collapsing aviation sector, he kept mute on the unpaid salaries of millions of workers across the land, the huge debts that the Jonathan administration has bequeathed to him and indeed the main means of generating revenue, to run his government, apart from oil. General Buhari gave no hint on the mode of reform of the judicial system and the administration of justice generally, the expected policy statement on NNPC did not come, and even the Boko Haram insurgency, to which the President devoted most of his speech, ended up in a policy disaster, of cause after effect; in that the President will only know the cause, origin and perspectives of the criminal organization, only after he has succeeded in killing them all.
In all, the Inaugural Speech became another campaign promise, a general rendition of statements of intention, without action. It was too vague and illusory, like a speech being delivered by a novice in power. This is the President who has ruled this country as a Head of State, through a coup detat in 1983, and one that has sought to rule this nation since 2003, so he had all the time in the world, to have mapped out his cause of action and strategies. This is surely not the speech expected from our GMB.
In the coming days however, we expect more concrete reforms and ACTION”.
God bless Nigeria.
EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA, ESQ.
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- Abdu Usman · Works at Gombe State GovernmentYou are putting the cart before the horse, inaugural speech is a condensed one. To unfold everything on the table can not be possible at that material moment ; it is just not feasible. It is very right for Mr. President to reassure and confirm his pledge to All Nigeria n's. He has just gotten in to the stage, allow him, any well constructed speech and policies that is not being implemented is meaningless. We believe in the practicability and not theories that remains at that. Wait and see positive results within short humanly possible time.
- Aniebiet Robinson · Top commenter · Works at Self-EmployedWithin short humanly possible time? @Usman, where will GMB get the money from when he is already crying that the tresury is empty? How will he achieve that at the shortest turn around time when GMB is begging for more time? There is no time, we need: BH to end by Monday 01/06/2015, we need N1 = 1$ by 30/06/2015, we need all corrupt past public office holders probed and the embezzled money recovered by 31/07/2015. The majority of the country's citizen and those who where brought in from Niger/Chad/cameroun + underage and unborn did not vote him to power for flimsey excuses. Else, we will ask the difference between the immediate past government and GMB's.
- Olaoluwa Olatona · Follow · Top commenter · 141 followersI guess Adegboruwa is only speeking for him/herself, your article is written based on the fact that you focused on the wrong things today. Simply put, this is an inauguration ceremony and you don't expect him to roll out all the plans and answers to all our questions immediately. Biko please relax and cool yourself down.If he were to roll out his strategies in all aspects affecting our nation, he will spend the whole day.
- Lawrence Odoli · Top commenter · Works at Port HarcourtMr. Ebun-Olu, I wrote about this sometime during the campaign for the elections even after the he won the election. I was wondering then, I say how someone who wants to rule a country as big as Nigeria and he has no blue print, no nothing as a map of policy direction? He has to be proactive not just rule as it happens or as it comes. I said it, the party APC spends their time talking and cussing out the President and this man was helping them by not dragging them to court giving them all the time they need to prepare and think and map out policies on how to deal with so many many problems that have to be tackled instead they were still dancing, partying, drinking and sleeping. Talking about Jonathan clueless, I think the real clueless is about to emerge, read my lips, I said it.
- Obed Etobe · Top commenter · University of Lagos, NigeriaI don't expect anything from Buhari. I won't be disappointed if nothing comes. The job of steering an economy is not a gestapo job. Buhari is the choice, largely, of a hysterical mob who understand next to nothing in economics.
- Garba JayOK,we hear Mr Know All in Economics.
It will gratifying to Nigerians if you chipped in contributions that ginger up the mind set of those that knows no to noting in Economics.
Engaging all Nigerians to make Nigeria greater was reason we elected CHANGE.
Be part of the effort to ensure positive change,instead of trying to kill it at birth.
May Almighty God assist Buhari in his efforts to revive Nigeria-Amin - MD Martins · Top commenter · C.E.O at De-Rock choco Int'l Co.@obed, nobody even expect someone like you who is a die hard supporter of GEJ and corruption to think of any good think because I noticed it that you are one of those who claim to be a student of Unilag, whereas you are nor. However keep that to yourself as one of the hater of GMB, if you are here in Lagos, you will get frustrated to get yourself drown in Lagoon, we still have thousand of you that the ouster of GEJ still hurt most of you. Your GEJ that is PHD holder, what does he know about Economic. I await your reply anytime and Lawrence odoli, please I advise you to look for APC manifesto where you are, then you can know what is at hand.
- Ogungbe Oluwaseun · Top commenter@EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA, ESQ. you're such a person whose at the end the explanation all in the name to talk your own which is your village thing. Try and glance through what he said (inauguration speech) and if you don't understand kindly look for more explanation from your SAN. Let us all be patient as it is gradual for some processes while immediate effect had been took place where it needed.
