THE GAINS IN PRESIDENT BUHARI'S AGE FOR NIGERIA
A 'social fact' of life is that not all of us will reach old-age. While we pray to be old, we sometimes reject the label of being tagged 'old school' in everyday conversation. This is partly due to the problems that are associated with old-age. The old suffer isolation, status and role interpretation change, they forget things easily, they want to contribute to discussion but their take is discarded. We fear being tagged old because of the unfair ways we treat old people in Nigeria. Thus people battle to remain youthful. Looking younger than your age is an investment. For instance, when a lady has come of age and has not secured a suitor, she invests in her appearance and dresses erotically to advertise her availability. However, a married woman who dresses same way will be scolded and sanctioned. But we must know that there is a time to be young, and another to be old with each phase coming with challenges. Age is an important demographic variable that determines which role is to be assigned. This is why the admittance of President Mohammadu Buhari that his age may limit what he would have loved to do should be commended. Although his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) downplayed the significance of age during the 2015 general election campaign when Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose drew our attention to the likely challenges of entrusting our country into the hand of a man Mrs. Patience Jonathan called 'analogue'.
Is the age of Mr. President a gain or burden to Nigeria? It is a plus only if Mr. President can translate old-age wisdom into solving the myriad of problems confronting the country. The President was not voted to be part of the Super eagle's team where he needs to be 'fit' to secure a place in the team. He is more of the team coach saddled with the responsibility of assembling the best to win laurels. The coach assembles the best legs, supervises them and coordinates their activities. The President was voted for his avowed integrity and should learn to mute on perceived weaknesses and act-out his strengths. In Nigeria, old people engage in productive routines until they can work no more. There are many old persons working as night guards, tailors, and farmers to mention but a few.
Being old is not a disease because; such category constitutes the 'power bank' of a society that annexes their strengths. But President Buhari must resolve the tension between integrity and despair. Integrity implies evaluating one's life in a realistic way such as behaving honestly, without which, he may have to live in despair. Sometimes old-age means fear and self-doubt; people who live a terrible life are those who fail to come to terms with their age since there are social expectations attached to age, status and roles.
President Buhari falls into the category of the 'young elderly' (65-75). He has access to financial security, lives with his wife and enjoys good health. The 'older-elderly' are those above 75 years and more likely to have health and money problems and are dependent on others. The 'Oldest-old' are those above 85 years. What this means is that the President is the youngest in the old people's kingdom and must work for us. His age has implications for formulating a policy for the aged and establishment of old-people's homes. The old should feel the impact that they have their own in power. The youths know that Mr. President enjoyed the best of education, health facilities, road, and electricity when he was younger. Perhaps that is why he can live and be President at 72years in a nation where people die under 50 years owing to deteriorating living conditions in Nigeria. This is the opportunity to fix these problems and improve our life expectancy.
President Buhari must be reminded that Nigerians did not vote for him to go into Aso rock to grind stones. Therefore, the key to his successful aging is to maintain his dignity and self-confidence and accept the inevitability of advancing in age. Nigeria keyed into the strength of his age while voting realizing that old people have a greater introspection and become less materialistic than younger ones. Young leaders are materialistic and they have harmed Nigeria at the slightest opportunity they had at governance.
The age of the President will be put to test in settling the dispute among actors in his party. As the Yoruba Maxim goes Agba kii wa loja ki ori omo titun wo (an elder does not stand in the market while a toddler's head twist or slants at the back of her mother without calling her attention to it). Elderly wisdom is needed to pacify worrying parties to allow democracy thrive. Presently, APC is holding Nigerians to ransom by its seeming lack of respect for democratic emergence of leaders; rather, its leaders prefer imposition. If President Muhammadu Buhari emerged through a democratic process at the primaries and later in general elections, why is it difficult for the leaders of APC to uphold democratic norms? It is un-elderly for the president to keep mute and allow his party to draw back the wheel of progress. A Yoruba adage says abata takete bi enipe ko ba odo tan (the marsh stands aloof as if it were not related to the river). Mr. President must take a share of the responsibility in the ensuing melee among warlords in his party.
As President, you occupy the 'owners' corner' but needs to engage drivers that are themselves versed not only about driving but how to navigate to the destination whenever there is traffic gridlock. He/she must be fearless, meticulous and reflective. Such a driver must have a stake in what his boss is interested in and must be committed to its realization. Although old drivers are more careful, experiences at the national CONFAB revealed they got tired easily and slept with opportunity. Thus since President Buhari is old as admitted, he needs energetic drivers that buy into his dreams for Nigeria and can translate it into practical reality. He must choose carefully his aides and note that he who walks with the wise grows wise but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Written by Oludayo Tade, a sociologist.
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