that is for anyone who has baggages. From Sunday to Thursday, last week had interesting
events that played out from the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.
He is like a gadfly, provoking thoughts. And last week, he fired the first salvo, causing palpitations across the land.
Whether it was circumstantial, deliberate or premeditated, the point was that he had spoken, thereby putting into perspective the shape of things to come.
Sunday-A day of provocation.
For anyone who still doubts whether change is imminent in the land, playing back of the tape of the meeting between the president-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari, and the Adamawa State chapter of all Progressives Congress, APC, would be necessary. Buhari was unequivocal on his agenda in correcting the social ills engraved on the Nigerian soil over the years.
During the congratulatory meeting on Sunday, he openly showed his resentment on the suspicious deals at the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation, NNPC. Boldly, Buhari disclosed that he would look into the activities of the corporation.
To start with, Buhari accused the Federal Government of hurriedly sacking a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, when he raised the alarm over the $20 billion allegedly missing from NNPC’s coffers.
To him, what a responsive and responsible government should have done was to launch a large scale investigation, but that did not happen.
Buhari did not stop there. He confessed that the military had failed Nigerians in the wake of the Boko Haram insurgency.
But to him, the Nigerian Army he worked with and also led at a time, with all its unassailable feats in sub-saharan African and the world at large can not be held down by “mere” insurgents in the North- east for years, counting. Something must be wrong, he felt.
The seizure of some 14 local government areas by the bandits was very embarrassing to him.
According to him, the issue of Boko Haram was not religious oriented but pure terrorism against the nation and the people.
Monday—FG, PDP rattled/the AIT ban.
By his utterances, Buhari shocked the Federal Government and the outgoing ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP replied Buhari on the NNPC issue, saying they were ready for any kind of probe.
But the development did not generate as much controversy as the ban the president-elect unleashed on an “enemy” media organisation, the African Independent Television, AIT.
While, journalists gathered at the Defence House to cover Buhari’s official events, news filtered in that AIT correspondent, Tenasopi Bebei, had been asked not to come up for president-elect’s assignments until further notice. Security concerns of Buhari’s family and the issues of professional ethics and standards were submitted as reasons for the ban.
But many who kept tab on AIT’s programmes during the electioneering campaigns were quick to dismiss the first reason. To them, however,the second sounded more plausible judging from the allegation that hate campaigns and documentaries against Buahri were always on the station then.
But the matter, one would say, died down when on Wednesday Buhari acted fast, seriously warning his aides, including the security team, to steer clear of media matters. Such, he said, should be solely left in the hands of his media aides whom he said knew how best to deal with.
He added that he was not consulted before the directive was issued to the correspondent.
Wednesday—Buhari inaugurates transition committee.
Wednesday provided the president-elect an opportunity to inaugurate his transition technical committee.
Headed by a retired federal Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, the committee was to interface with the Federal Government to ensure a smooth handover of power on May 29.
Dr. Doyin Salami is the Vice-Chairman while Adamu Adamu is Secretary.
National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, and the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also made the list.
Similarly, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Ameachi, a former governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, and a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, David Tam West, are also on the committee.
Other members of the committee are Mr. Boss Mustapha, Mallam Muhammad Hayatuddin, Alhaji Abubakar Malami (SAN), Brig. Gen. Lawal Jafaru Isa, Sen. Hadi Sirik, Sen. Audu Ogbeh, Barrister Dalong, Mrs Bola Adesola, Mr Wale Edun, Mrs Nike Aboderin and Mr Festus Odimegwu.
A statement from Lai Mohammed said that terms of reference of the committee was “to develop a clear framework for liaison with the out-going Administration for purposes of a smooth hand-over/take-over and to receive hand-over documents from Ministries, Departments and Agencies and itemise the most important or most urgent issues confronting the in-coming government.
“It said the committee is also saddled with reviewing and making preliminary assessment of the balance sheet of government with particular emphasis on the status of assets and liabilities of government; cash flow position of the government; quantum of public domestic and external debt of government and their deployment; government’s out-standing contractual obligations and its ability to meet such obligations and the status of implementation of capital projects.
“The committee is also expected to undertake a preliminary assessment of the security challenges facing the country and the counter-insurgency measures taken by the government thus far; the counter policy measures being implemented in the Niger Delta to deal with unrest and major economic crimes in the area.
In particular, the status of the Amnesty Programme, the readiness of the Police and other national security and intelligence agencies in addressing threats to law and order and provide a brief over-view of CBN, NNPC, NCC, Customs and FIRS.
“Other terms of reference of the committee include to suggest “quick fixes” which will result in tangible, visible and practical measures so that CHANGE will be seen after 30 days, after 100 days, after 6 months of the Administration taking office, and to make any other observations which in view of the Committee would be helpful to the transition and take-off of the new Administration. The committee has two weeks to conclude its work.”
Buhari at the inauguration told Nigerians that the facts in the activities of the outgoing government must be ascertained before progress could be made. But he also warned against any kind of witch-hunt.
Thursday—Yet another probe disclosure
Like Sunday, Buhari also sounded tough on Thursday. This time, his anger was directed to security personnel across all military and paramilitary organisations who had a hand in the illicit activities of either snatching ballot boxes or preventing the use of the card reader during the general elections.
To this end, he said he would prosecute them, stressing that such crimes must not go unpunished.
Essentially, that was the fallout of his meeting with the South-east caucus of the APC who was also at the Defence House to congratulate him on his electoral victory and to make a case for the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and the Speaker/Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives for their zone.
To tell his seriousness, Buhari revealed that he had asked the governors of Imo, Edo and Rivers, where the incidences were largely reported, to document all the “atrocities” of the security personnel.
Bottom line.
Indeed, Buhari provoked many thoughts with his statements last week. While some people saw him as being controversial, many however felt that the developments showcased him as a leader who has his eyes on his agenda; in other words, he has a genuine mission of salvaging the country, especially the oil industry. Will this be the case? The answer will become clearer from May 29 when he assumes the mantle of leadership from President Goodluck Jonathan.
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