Buhari’s Regret: Tinubu’s Lesson -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

Femi Adesina, a former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari last week said the former President regretted some of the decisions he took while in office and felt he could have done some things better. The ex-presidential spokesman stated this while speaking at a programme tagged ‘Media Dialogue with Femi Adesina’, organised by the Association of Veteran Journalists in Osun State. Even before the ex-presidential spoke person’s outburst,it has always been typical for Nigerian former leaders to regret carrying or fail to implement certain policies/actions while in office. Sometimes, even as an individual, one is bound to make a mistakes in the course of carrying his/her responsibilities. That is why we are human being. We are not perfect. While human being make mistakes, some are deliberate, some emerge due to incompetence and other unintentional. Femi, did not tell Nigerians which policies his former boss carried or failed to carry leading to his regrets. But he seemed to be more specific on the benefits of naira re-design policy, few weeks to 2023 general elections. Prior to his election in 2015, Buhari denied the existence of petroleum subsidy and called it a fraud. He promised to stop it if elected. During his campaign, Buhari promised to fight corruption, fix the economy and secure the country. However, upon assumption of office, the former president came to term with stark realities and met balloon of problems ranging from broken economy and deteriorating insecurity. While he underrated the magnitude of problems outside the power, he was overwhelmed by the same problems when in power. The subsidy payment which he promised to stop suddenly jumped up under his watch. The subsidy payments continue to gulp trillions of naira until he left office. Insecurity which was confined within the North-East zone, with Borno state badly hit by the activities of Boko Haram, snowballed, growth and became a national phenomenon. This led to bandits, killers herdsmen and unknown gun men to operate with little resistance.

Yes, the former president did his best in eight years he served the country. He prioritised agriculture which boast food production and enhanced job security.  He also made an impacts in other sectors of the economy. Though,the former presidential spokesman did not tell Nigerians which policies or actions made his former boss to regret, politicians should stop promises what they can not deliver. If one recalled, Buhari’s policy documents before he came to power entitled”My covenant with Nigerians”  promised to provide 10millions job to Nigerians every year. That was not alone. The administration made countless promises which failed to see the light of the day. Little wonder, when Buhari’s completed his tenure, some Nigerians scored his government low. The enthusiasm which it enjoyed in 2015 did not last. It faded or simply evaporated. However,i put the blame of Buhari’s remorseful regrets on the table of his ministers and advisers. They failed to advice him appropriately when the need arises. Do they keep quiet whenever policies serve their interest? When Buhari’s immediate past government came under severe attacks,no any past minister muster a courage to defend it. Why?

Buhari’s regrets did not come to many Nigerians as surprise. However, It should serve as a wake up call to our leaders that, power is transient. There is life after power. That is the period leader regrets his actions or in actions while in power. The present administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs to look before it jumps. The time for politics is over. What Nigerians need now is good governance anchor on accountability. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not live to regrets if he can fix the country’s four refineries. This will guarantee affordable Premium motor spirit (PMS) to Nigerians and stabilize the inflation dominant economy. Tinubu will not regret if he can tackle the menace of insecurity bedevil the country. The bandits, Killers herdsmen, unknown gun men and criminals are making Nigerians have hold the country to ransom. He can not regret if 33 millions,multi-dimensional poverty stricken Nigerians,are uplifted and enjoyed good standard of living. He needs not to regret if the poorly paid civil servants receive decent and better wages.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state.08169056963.