By Austine Uche-Ejeke
The polity heaved a sigh of relief with the announcement by President Buhari to contest the forth coming Presidential Election in 2019 to seek a second term mandate.
The question is: why should a simple matter of saying I want to contest for a second term or I don’t want to contest attract such wide spread expectation that virtually all the activities of the state have been grounded on speculation, apprehension and misgivings on whether the incumbent will try once again or just throw in the towel?
Why the secrecy in declaring to contest or not to contest in an election that is virtually ten months away. The answer may not be far-fetched as the history of second term bid as it concerns the Presidency is fraught with dishonesty and irrelevant secrecy. What is the big deal there if not that all our leaders have shown that dubiousness and insincerity in the prosecution of the ambition. Starting from Obasanjo who never came out clean to declare his intention to contest for a second term but ended up gunning for a third term! The case of Goodluck Jonathan was even worse as he did not declare until few months to the actual election in 2015 election.
Nigerians were expecting a new lease of life and breath of fresh air with the case of President Buhari. Being a self-acclaimed no nonsense General and straight forward person, Nigerians expected that the tension and apprehensions of declaration of intent to contest for second term that he would have come out boldly to declare his intention to run or not to run. Moreover, President Buhari and the ruling APC came under the banner and mantra of change connoting that the old way of doing things have come and gone and passed away.
On a personal note am gladdened that President Buhari has decided to run for a second term. My joy knew no bounds and was predicated on the fact that he is man enough to boldly grab his constitutional right of a second term as enunciated in the constitution. Thus, he has put to bed any attempt to cajole or intimidate him out of appropriating his constitutional right to a second term. By this rare bravery that no amount of intimidation or harassment could have coerced him out of contesting. Not even with the twelve epistles of letters of Obasanjo could shut him out of his desire and right to contest.
Also, my gladness touches on the fact that if eventually president Buhari contests and wins he will equate the record of Obasanjo being the only living person that has been a military head of state, executive president for two consecutive terms. This very touchy issue is what some pundits are pointing out as the main reason why Obasanjo is hell bent on scuttling whatever chance that President Buhari has in achieving his ambition of a second term. Same reason Obasanjo wrote long letter to Jonathan.
Thirdly, most Nigerians will be happy to see President Buhari contest and win for a second term in office. Their argument is based on the fact that most of the excuse of this government is that four years is not enough for somebody to do anything meaningful and tangible. So, if Nigerians want to see proper dividends of democracy, they should allow President Buhari to complete another four years. In line with this, I say a big yes to it. The reason for this my support is that before the emergence of President Buhari, some Nigerians were of the belief that previous administrations ran the country aground and that it is only a Buhari with his magical and Midas touch that can turn the fortunes of this country around.
And so, the mandate was given to him about three years ago and they are all witnesses to what their fate have been all these years. I have been imagining what this country would have been or what these core Buhari supporters would have done or said if Goodluck Jonathan or any other person had been in the saddle. And this country may not be as bad as it is today what you will be hearing will be that if only Buhari has been given an opportunity to rule, Nigeria would have been better than America! Now President Buhari has not only been given a four-year mandate to prove his mettle but will also be given another four years. Nigerians will be waiting for that miraculous turnaround of their lives and fortunes.
On the other hand, many Nigerians are saying that President Buhari should not run for a second term and they may be right in their own thinking. The focus of their argument is hinged on the principal fact that age may not be on the side of the ailing president. By next year president Buhari will be 77 years. That is the official age president Buhari provided. And if peradventure he contests and wins he will rule at a very old and fragile age that will make him leave office at the age of 81 years. How productive and agile he will be to carry out the onerous task of governing a seemingly difficult and challenging country like Nigeria is what most people cannot fathom out.
Not only old age but there is also the health status factor of the president. For a good part of 2017, President Buhari spent months in a London hospital leaving behind Aso Rock and governance for which Nigerians elected him. Even when he has not traveled out for medical treatment most of the time he is holed up in Aso Rock tending to one ill health or the other, all associated with old age! Thus, they are saying that the best thing will be for president Buhari to take a bow and go and attend to his failing health.
Aso Rock should not be a home for the old and retired people to serve out their retirement and also live off the remaining part of their life. It should be a place where a vibrant and energetic person should work if possible 25 hours a day with unflinching vitality, vigour and alertness. It should be an office where the president attends to the problems and challenges of country, travelling the length and breadth of the country particularly to troubled spots where his attention is needed!
Moreover, some Nigerians are putting it to President Buhari that there is this thing they call honour. They are quick to remind President Buhari that in 2011 that he told the whole world that he will do only just one term. To buttress this claim, they are brandishing and displaying a copy of a front-page news cover of The Nation newspaper where that declaration was made. Mind you Buhari was just 69 years old then. Nigerians in this fold are urging President Buhari to toe the path of honour and just do one term and retire in peace when the ovation is still loudest. They are beckoning on him to emulate the African icon and late South African leader, Nelson Mandela, who irrespective of his popularity and goodwill only did one term and handed over to another person thereby appropriating the highest honour and respect of any living or dead African!
Going further, the argument is stretched that of what benefit will a second term do to Buhari and the nation when from all indications he is not in charge of the affairs of the country. It is pointed out that a powerful clique and cabal have taken over the governance of this country thereby making it difficult for Nigerians to see the real Buhari in action. This is evidenced and authenticated by the outburst of President Buhari’s wife, Aisha, who in a widely publicised comment and broadcast insisted that her husband no longer had charge of the affairs of the country and that if president Buhari did not stamp his authority she may not continue to support him or even campaign for him for 2019 election. That outburst was two years ago and up till now nothing has changed!
At least with this declaration, the polity will receive some sanity and know that their energy and attention will now be focused on one direction, mobilisation and campaign for the president Buhari to win a second term. People like Kano State Governor Ganduje should now save their millions in law suits that he vowed to sue the president if he refuses to contest for a second term.
Same thing with all other APC governors who for many months running have left their primary assignment and have been junketing the length and breadth of the country from Katsina to Sokoto to Abuja to Lagos in nocturnal meetings begging, pleadings, cajoling, threatening and even forcing president Buhari to contest next year election. Also, aides like Femi Adesina who called the opposition cats and rats and caricatured their lawful bid to run for election should also now rest and do their job of polishing and marketing their principal, President Buhari, for next year’s election.
One thing is clear, it is not declaration or even actual winning of next year’s election that Nigerians are after. Their main concern is that whether President Buhari wins a second term or another person comes to power what they need is a new lease of life that will better their lives. If not, they will just simply advice President Buhari to run for his dear life!
*Austine Uche-Ejeke, Publisher and editor-in-chief AGENDA community newspaper and public Affairs Analyst wrote vide eaustineuche@yahoo.com
