PRESIDENT BUHARI’S RETURN AND ENVISAGED POLITICAL TWISTS by SHABA MAFU.

No mortal has the monopolistic power to dictate when or where or who is to live or die, at any point in time going by natural law. No matter the wishes of evil, the ultimate power to decide how long one lives in this ephemeral contraction called the ‘earth’, is solely determined by God Himself. On this premise, I heartily rejoice with our president Muhammadu Buhari, who not only returned from London after 104 days on medical leave, but returned alive and healthy to meet his country people. I congratulate Nigerians as well that all the medical bills footed by the country did not amount to a waste.  The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo did excellently well at the absence of his boss. He showed loyalty and solidarity in all his dealings. He must be commended for this.

President Buhari did not sneak into the country  following his return, but gave a national broadcast less than seventy-two hours after his arrival, and gave a short but weighty broadcast to the nation which to me touched some very fundamental issues. He acknowledged that his survival of the undisclosed ailment was not just because of the expertise of the London Doctors, nor for the sophistication of their medical gadgets, but attributed all glory to God. This is rightly commendable.

Having spoken to the nation, it behooves of the president to listen to the views of the public. The Nigeria Medical Association (NBA) took on the president to upgrade the medical facilities in the Aso Rock Villa and by extension to all public medical facilities across the country. This will help us take care of emergencies; reduce the bill of health care of public officers and reduce unnecessary transfer of funds in the name of foreign trips for medical attention. The politicians will not abuse that opportunity to siphon and loot our commonwealth to a foreign country. The upgrade will also benefit all other citizens. It is a clarion call to the government which must be taken very seriously.

The  Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, (AYF), the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu, the coalition of Niger-Delta militants, should by now have a serious rethink  on their threats to break the nation into pieces, because the president has clearly stated that the unity of this country is settled and “non-negotiable”. The president has acknowledged the fact that there were legitimate requests or demands by these groups but must be addressed on the platform of a united country. The divisive tendencies of these people must therefore not be allowed to materialize. Every one of them has set October 1, 2017, as the deadline for those issued notices to finally quit wherever they are domiciled. October 1^st is the day for the commemoration of our independence from the British overlords and cannot be used to needlessly shed the blood of fellow Nigerians or cause needless mayhem across the country. The president must call these groups together and discuss with them. He needs to drum senses into their heads. It pays more to live together. I strongly opine that the energy expended by these groups on potentially fruitless expeditions, be channeled to put more pressure on the government to restructure the country. This is more important and beneficial to all the geo-political zones, than the aimless and senseless quit notices flying all over the country.

The president should also look critically into the case of the cabals who undermined the Vice-president when he was acting at the absence of the president. These cabals reportedly went to London to present a document to the ailing president to sign whilst the executive powers were transmitted fully to Professor Yemi Osinbajo who was legitimately on the acting capacity and ought to have signed those documents. These cabals are ethic jingoists and separatists who by their actions slighted not only the Vice-President but the President himself. They are hypocrites and traducers capable of causing political tensions in a country they claim they are working for. They do not have the moral temerity to continue to work with a government they so disdain. They should not only be sacked from their offices but tried for insubordination and rebellion to a constituted authority and finally be blacklisted from holding any public office for a certain period of time.

Finally, the boko haram should be handled more decisively because they have increased their demonic onslaught on soft targets. The harams must be handled with maximum force, if need be, by the military. I am confident that the country is moving in the positive direction.

On the President’s return, Kogi State on its own had declared one day public holiday to welcome back the president. While his return is worth celebrating, it is a complete waste of resources (man-power) to declare a public holiday especially as yesterday was even a Sunday (day of worship). The prayers in the church on Sunday should suffice.  The muslims and the Christians have been praying for the president’s health and safe return, therefore declaring a full day as a holiday just to welcome or pray or celebrate the president’s return is a waste of man hours as far as I am concerned.

 I know there are going to be lots of positive political twists in days ahead. The president has returned.