More Power To You The President
The appointment of ministers with portfolios has formally heralded the much-awaited kick-off of the Buhari administration, a regime driven by the change slogan. It is making news headlines around the world that after six calendar months of inactivity, inaction and painstaking scrutiny, the first of its kind the dawn of a new era has begun in Africa's most populous country and largest economy.
While applauding the President's resolve to introduce changes and far-reaching reforms let it be such that will regenerate, revitalize and reunite the country, especially under a beleaguered government in Abuja that is fighting conflicts on all fronts calling to mind the ongoing jihadist insurgency and separatist feelings and agitations that hang over the country.
Ministers have been appointed and given portfolios which means work has in earnest begun. The government in Abuja has no earthly reason to fail Nigerians who fought doggedly to dethrone 16 years of PDP 'prodigal misrule'. Buhari was never a part of the PDP dynasty since 1999 which probably attracted sympathy to him when he again decided to vie for the nation's highest office. Now the die is cast and he has ascended the throne and ministers have been appointed by him, in the long run, to help him in the day-to-day running of his government.
The truth - incontrovertible and undeniable - is that President Buhari knows the calibre of men he has appointed to be crew members while steering the Nigerian ship of state and, therefore, can never extricate himself from any culpable action of any of his men which, of course, we honestly do not anticipate.
What has been shrouded in secrecy has ultimately been revealed and Nigerians know now who their stewards are. Some are of doubtful or questionable character while some are of impeccable manners and this has attracted mixed feelings. Some of the ministers are accepted by all and welcomed with open hands while the appointment of some sound ear-biting and are objected to.
Be that as it may, their appointment has been ratified by the upper legislative chamber; expressing disgust in the nick of time and crying in sheer disapproval like the Biblical weeping Jeremiah will not change the course of events. In fact, the Rubicon is crossed!
While Nigerians wait patiently and anxiously to start feeling the impact of these change and sweeping reforms, we must remind the ministers that there will not be any reason or excuse for failure because our resources if properly harnessed can put us on a par with other high-income economies around the world.
This calls to mind the position of the youth in Nigeria. It is sad, very sad, sad indeed, so sad that the youth have been relegated to the background. None of the ministers that is appointed is below 40 years. Another fault spotted by this writer is the recycling of the same brigade - like a performance that is re-enacted in one continuous movement and this has caused so much disappointment and pain. Evidence abound that some of these men have stolen from the public till with bags and tons of money tucked away in overseas bank accounts. Ah.. this is very disheartening!
Today right there in the National Assembly the writer has it on good authority that there are some lawmakers who like thoughtless morons do not know their left from their right and have in fact never raised any motion nor sponsor any bill on the floor of the House. This, however, is not in dispute thereby making the House sometimes an extension of their bedrooms. No sooner has the day's business begun on the floor than some fall asleep with nothing to contribute - a major reason for which they were elected by the constituency they represent while some of Nigeria's best brains whose contributions would have uplifted the standard of living of the people especially the youth are clean forgotten by a criminal dynasty who has decided to hold on to political power ad infinitum.
We see these lame ducks here and there both in the immediate past government under the former ruling party, Buhari's cabinet, and in the legislative chambers. Wait a minute! The question that agitates the writer is:
Doesn't Nigeria stand to lose so much by the ongoing and increasing neglect of her youth? Many of us have been driven out of our homeland in search of the proverbial greener pastures overseas while some of us who circumstances have compelled to remain at home have no option but to thrive in dirt and dirty surroundings under the whims and caprices of a beleaguered government.
We do hope what we have on the ground today is not a government that is made up of political eunuchs and a cast of neophyte actors. I am not a prophet of doom, but the question that agitates me is: How far can these crop of men carry us along when their previous tenure brought us nothing but sorrow and blood? Buhari, it is on the lips of both the young and old, is a man of integrity who would have recruited a platoon of revolutionaries to regenerate Nigeria.
All in all, if what they say about him is anything to go by - though I have my reservations - as Nigeria's number one ethics policeman he must have his men under strict surveillance to enable him to deliver on his campaign promises. He can not afford to fail us yet again, by no stretch of the imagination.
Iyoha John Darlington, an opinion leader and public commentator on national and global issues writes from Turin, Italy.