GENERAL BUHARI HAS NEVER DISAPPOINTED!
By Udenenwu John Chike

Nigerians are indeed in for a long haul. The regime has set an entirely new paradigm. Most are still in shock. A few who know better have swiftly rebirth their processes to match the current economic realities. There is certainly no time to complain. Everyone must re-strategise to beat this excruciating economic downturn. For every challenge carries within it seeds of equal opportunity. We’ve got to enlist now to make the best of what we have left before nightfall.
Complaining about Buhari’s economic policies is futile. The hardlife on the streets should be seen as a blessing in disguise. It’s such a difficult time now, Nigerians have to focus on how governance works. They have to get involved in the democratic process – It’s technicalities, & benefits.
The poor masses must have to see through the bullshit the elites throw at them everytime- their games, their deceptions, & their lousy ideas. They have to also look at themselves, see their own limitations & stupidity… All of this will help sharpen the eye to a razors edge, making them keen observers of everything that is happening around them ….There lies their POWER!
However, the greatest danger most Nigerians face today is NEVER the unfavourable economic policies of some ruthless political leader, or the brutality of the police, DSS or military. IT’S SIMPLY THEIR MINDS GOING SOFT.
I’ve seen it happen to many Nigerians. If things go well, they start to think it will go on that way forever and they take their eyes off their target. If things go bad, they start wishing it where all different Either way, they fall flat..
Let me state categorically that President Muhammadu Buhari has never disappointed me. And the reason is simple: I’ve studied his antecedents & knew he can do very little or nothing, other than what we are currently getting, from him.
It’s so unfortunate that millions of Nigerians fell for the ‘born-again democrat’ bait in 2015/2019 and never prepared for the worst, I have never believed in any of the Buhari credentials – except probably, for his acclaimed intention to want to do good and live right.
However, after 5 years of (mis)rule lies serious doubt as to whether that aspect of his persona ever gets to prevail in all that he does, as President of Nigeria – considering all the other extraneous forces that come to play before a decision is finally made on a myriad of national issues.
Of course, many of these other forces are not as altruistic as that latent Mai Gasikiya trait (which, clearly, is not a dominant strain). There are forces of religion, ethnicity, regionalism, the personal agenda of each and all of the president’s men, the all-powerful kitchen cabinet (otherwise known as the cabal) and, sometimes, the bedroom force(s).
Consequently, Nigerians are now being pushed with decisions to either arise out of their caves and march to the streets in protest or forever hold their peace…. General Buhari has slammed on them and has rammed down their throats rock-hard morsels, without a single drop of water to ease the pain of swallowing it.
Today, all socioeconomic odds are piling up against Nigerians. No thanks to the spikes in prices of essential goods and services orchestrated by increase in PMS pump price, electricity tariff, import duty, satellite television services, new 7.5 VAT, etc.
The wailings in Nigerian streets are deafening. The pump price of petrol was increased on Wednesday last week, just two days after a new electricity tariff was implemented. Dstv/Gotv subscriptions have also surged. VAT has increased. Interests accruable to savings from banks have been reduced from 3.75 percent to 1.25 percent. Inflation and unemployment is on the rise. Add the killings, banditry, kidnappings, cattle-rustling & insurgency, there has been a huge depreciation in the standards of living and Buhari sure does not give a hoot!
These anger in the land may spark a nationwide protest in the coming days. It is almost impossible for the political and elite class to understand the excruciating pains of the poor and vulnerable Nigerians. While they cruise in the day time and snore comfortably at night with standing air conditioners in their toilets, they will never know the pains of poor Nigerians.
No responsible and sensible government should increase electricity tarrifs and petrol price at the same time. As consumable utilities, the two are direct substitutes of each other. When one does not have electricity at home, office or business place, of course he turns to his power generating set which requires petrol to run. Now the cost of the two are cut-throat and unbearable.
Does one now blame the government or the regulators? Going forward, Nigerians must learn the bitter lesson of setting aside sentiments in choosing their leaders. The only solution now as it seems, are massive protests, protest led by political elites of goodwill, Labour unions & trade unions because if quiet and calm is kept, more increment may be unleashed.
And it comes in all forms: One-sided border closure, games with forex, liberty with the Excess Crude Account, decisions to incur more foreign debts, increase in import duty etc. It also extends to federal appointments, the anti-graft war, cherry-picking which court orders to obey, the P&ID mess, and a host of others..
I am not disappointed, President Buhari is only being himself!