THE QUESTION: Is Muhammadu Buhari already flouting his campaign promises?
It is certainly too early to deeply assess the direction of the new federal government, seeing it has only been in office for three days out of its stipulated four years. But many Nigerians, whose high expectation stem from campaign-ground promises –of the new president, may already be harbouring thoughts of the saying of Mario Cuomo, 52nd governor of New York, that campaign is poetry, governance is prose.
Being critical of his predecessors’ style of governance, Buhari made several promises bordering around doing things differently and Nigerians across all divides gave him an overwhelming support. But early signals show the new president is already reneging on some of his campaign promises.
‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY
Official portrait of Aisha, the ‘first lady’?
The president believed that the office of the first lady, which came into existence in the late 80s, was not recognised by the constitution; and he said he would not recognise it.
“The [office of] first lady is not in the constitution, so there’s no official role for them,” he had said in December 2014. “Ministries, which are constitutional, should be allowed to play their own roles. There is the ministry of women affairs, and so on.”
The then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), latched on to this point to discredit Buhari. Then first lady, Patience Jonathan, went all out to convince women not to vote for him if they wanted their rights to be acknowledged.
As a counter-strategy, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was compelled to unveil Aisha Buhari, a woman who had lived a private life until that moment, to the public She toured the length and breadth of the country, standing by her husband as he campaigned.
In one of her campaign outings, Aisha promised to limit her roles to the traditional functions of visiting orphanages and caring for society’s downtrodden if the office of the first lady is scrapped.
“When my husband is elected as the president of this country, he will rule the country within the rule of law based on the constitution of the country. If the office of the first lady is constitutionally recognised, he will not tamper with it, but if it is not, I will perform my duties and role as the wife of the president of Nigeria traditionally.”
As it stands now, there is no provision for the office of the first lady in the constitution but an official portrait of Aisha is in circulation, fuelling the belief that Aisha would also run that office. And Mr. President has yet to say anything on it.
PRIVATE ASSETS DECLARATION
The late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua warmed his way into the hearts of Nigerians by publishing his assets on his 30th day in office. Prior to that development, no Nigerian leader had ever contemplated such. Goodluck Jonathan, who was then his deputy, also toed his line out of respect for his boss, but he never quite hid his aversion to the idea. So it was little surprise that he refused to do the same once he succeeded Yar’Adua.
During a presidential media chat in June 2012, Jonathan was asked if his refusal to make his assets public like his predecessor would not make Nigerians feel he was corrupt and in his response, he said: “I don’t give a damn.” Trust Nigerians, particularly on social media, the president came under serious scrutiny. Three years after, it was one of the talking points of the election that sent Jonathan out of Aso Rock.
In a document on his plan of action within the first 100 days of assumption of office as president, Buhari had promised to make his assets declaration public and influence his appointees to do the same but he and Yemi Osinbajo, his deputy, have failed to do so. They may have made details of their assets available to the Code of Conduct Bureau, but this is not what Buhari promised us. Still, he will have the benefit of doubt for the moment, as he still has a grace of 90 days to fulfill that promise.
TWO SPECIAL ADVISERS ON MEDIA
Buhari has picked longtime ally, Adesina, but so has he Shehu
Buhari accused past governments of wasting the resources of the government and of also having too many aides. Nigerians were impressed when pictures of him aboard the economy class of British Airways on his return trip from the United Kingdom last week, went into circulation.
At last, Nigeria now has a leader who would be considerate but his first set of appointments has undoubtedly done a lot of damage to that reputation. Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina have been announced as Buhari’s spokesmen, the former a special assistant on media and publicity, and the latter a special adviser on the same subject.
Even Jonathan, whose administration is widely considered as wasteful, did not have two people in that office when he became president. He brought in Doyin Okupe ahead of his re-election campaign, unlike Buhari who is starting off with two men.
Too early to embark on a far-reaching assessment of Buhari’s tenure, but the auguries of his early days are outright discouraging.
Taiwo George, you have chosen to mix up a lot of facts in this your write-up. Whether intentional or not, you appear set to mislead some ignorant Nigerians like yourself. The points you raised here are not intelligent. Please research more and be professional. Otherwise, you would certainly loose most of your intelligent readers.
@ Korojo: What has Taiwo said that is not’intelligent?’ Please explain it to me. Did Buhari say these words or not? Don’t cast aspersion on people if you don’t have facts. Facts are sacred.
Having two men on media matters does not portends bad start for Buhari. it is the quality of job the two will be doing that needs to be measured, if it worths it.they can fill in as press secretary and communication experts of the Presidency. it is an hectic function that demands quality people to handle it. As for the declaration of Assets, at least they have both given the office of code of conduct the paperwork that contain all their assets. This is an indication that they will make it public in not too long a time. Regarding the office of the first lady, even it is a common knowledge that the president and his wife are both in government to serve the country, definitely there will be some functions his wife will have to undertake as the wife of the President on behalf of the country. Michelle Obama has some staff working for her, and she was not as extravagant as the wife of Jonathan. i, for one do not care if Aisha has office of the first lady or not, it is how modest she is able to utilize the resources for the good course of the country that matters.
I agree with you Osuka. Is Aisha the President’s wife? If the answer is in the affirmative, why the hoopla?
We are aping the US model of the Presidential Constitution, the office of the first lady is not there, but her role is in context with the President’s wife enumerated in the campaign.
Would there be a first family?
The humbug about Assets Declaration is uncalled for as Buhari’s promise is still valid.
I see double standard among some commentators here. What was not good for Jonathan should it be good for Buhari?
You started your comment as “it is certainly too early” but your write up does not show objectivity pls. Our president promised declaration of asset,he has not renege,he has filed with cdc and his team promised 100 days within which it will be made public.Have you seen Aishat “Flaunt” herself in the manner of MAMA Peace? what is the real issue,please lets have an intelligent discussion to move this country. It is our country.
truth be told, I was personally disappointed when the asset declaration was not made public as promised during the campaign. However, what our attention should be focusing is the workability of the FOI law. How come no media house has gone to CCB to demand for these documents from the two gentlemen. It is only when they are stonewalled that we should scream blue murder!