2019 Elections: Nigerian youths rate Buhari, pass vote of no confidence in president
On March 28, it will be three years since Nigerians decided they wanted former military Head of State Muhammadu Buhari to lead the country again.
Buhari, leading to the hotly-contested elections, made several promises and offered so much hope to Nigerians who were miffed by the incompetency of Goodluck Jonathan.
Buhari’s speech on his inauguration two months after he was democratically elected was music to the ears.
“I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody,” he had said, eliciting huge sighs of relief from even his fiercest critics who had fears the new president could target them – or ignore developmental projects in their regions as it were.
Buhari’s other promises at the time included better security, electrical power stability, favorable economy and a committed goal of ridding the country of corrupt practices within the government.
Today, many Nigerians are dissatisfied with the president’s administration.
Leading to the celebration of the president’s 3rd year in office, Newsroom ran a poll on a scale of 1-10 to put to test Buhari’s popularity among Nigerian youths.
Ninety-five per cent of contributors refused to give the president a soft landing, rating him in negative scores to show their disapproval.
“Nigerians regret that day,” one contributor, Moneeka, said.
Another contributor was of the opinion that “No scale can contain the anger of Nigerians right now.”
“Let him rate himself, and we’ll surely know if he really understands what the word means,” another person said.
One person, McDonett, who is away from the country, bared his mind on the present administration:
“The poorest govt so far. The exchanging rate has never been up for this high and long. He came as a sick being so what else should we expected. Sick failure. You too much you made the country proud of your sick failure jobs and embezzlement.
“All the money he realised from thieves where are they. That’s all we all heard today we did not see the money. 4 years he did nothing to us all. We are tired of abroad and we need to come home to better. Are you govt not ashamed?
“We can be comfortable here but not a good feelings for us that God really blessed us and cannot enjoy it. I think my suggestion is that we all in Nigeria should not vote for anyone this term and let us see what will happen. Vote or no vote they know how to arrange themselves in.”
It was not all sticks and knocks for Buhari however, as one contributor rated him 9 out of 10, while pointing out that the president “is the first and only president that has challenged the cultural corruption of this country.
“The deep rooted infested money hyenas in this country. He confronted and challenged their stand. And even though it has affected the nation especially the poor masses, whether it is now or in the future, the only way this country will grow and find itself among the top if at all. So whether it’s buhari or any other president we as the people (zombies) elect again.”
Another contributor, Oyerin, said he rates the president a score of 4 out of 10, because he “thought he would deliver us but he only carried the intention, no will power no good people to work it with him he is riding solo, he has tried a little from his own effort.”
The next general elections in the country is about a year away and the youths are clamouring for one of their own – a young president.
While some ‘young’ candidates have declared ambition for the position of the number one citizen of the country, President Buhari remains silent and coy about his intention.
Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina has defended the president’s silence in a new interview, boldly stating he has no match once he declares his ambition.
“You know the peculiarity of Nigeria, particularly now. If the president speaks too early, it’s a problem,” Adesina said.
“There is a lot of sabotage in the country. You have also heard so many have said ‘don’t run.’ Because they know that if the president runs, other people should just run away because they don’t have the foggiest chance in hell to beat him.”
It remains to be seen if the youths in the country, who vociferously voiced their displeasure at Buhari’s administration, will troop out en masse to make a statement in 2019.
