OPINION: 5 things Buhari must change before preaching change
President Muhammdu Buhari and Lai Mohammed, his information and culture minister, recently launched a national orientation programme tagged “Change Begins With Me”.
The President in effect insists we Nigerians must forsake our “unruly” ways before expecting anything from the Buhari administration we laboured to bring into power.
I think Buhari is dead wrong. In fact, he needs to change the following things before it’s too late.
1. His “corruption” mindset
It’s clear now. Buhari is obsessed with the idea of an irredeemably corrupt Nigeria. He’s wrong. Nigerians are great people. I’m Nigerian and I know I’m a good guy. I’ve got great friends too. We pay tax, are law-abiding and respect authority. Dear Buhari, change your “Nigerians are evil” mindset and start speaking well of your countrymen.
2. Buhari must change his cabinet
A look at Buhari’s cabinet will show nothing has changed under this government. My take: APC hogs were rewarded for their role in selling Buhari to Nigerians. Under Goodluck Jonathan, we had an agriculture minister who offered fresh ideas that worked. Buhari turned back the clock. Until he changes his cabinet, nothing will change. And he will lose in 2019, should Nigeria make it that far. The country is not doing well. We need change, and it must begin with the President.
3. Buhari must change the Inconclusive Nonsensical Electoral Confusion back to INEC
Nigeria made huge democratic leaps under Jonathan. We had free elections. Buhari seems to be washing that away. How many elections has the current INEC been able to execute conclusively? We’ve even been warned the conclusiveness of 2019 polls is not guaranteed. Buhari, change that and stop insulting out intelligence with your “change begins with lagbaja” nonsense.
4. The president must change his perfume
Dear Buhari, don’t listen to what your advisers say about Nigerians that our hardship is “propaganda”. They’re either lying or out of touch with what’s going on in our streets. And please, tell your people to stop saying “we too are suffering”. It’s diabolically insulting. It stinks. It’s adding fuel to the fire of your body odour. Please change your tone. Change your perfume or simply wash up and apply some lime to those sensitive areas. I’ll be honest with you. Your body language has changed to body odour. One of your minister’s even said “recession is just a word!
To this man in Oshodi, Lagos, "recession" is more than a word. pic.twitter.com/uhG851mayN
— Neusroom (@Neusroom) September 7, 2016
5. Change the economy for good
Buhari, it’s your job to get the Nigerian economy out of this mess. Do your job and stop complaining. That’s the change we voted for. We didn’t vote for you to come sermonise or lecture us about change. We’ve got enough religious clerics and professors doing that. Do your job. You’re the President. Your Excellency, please shut up and drive.
Rotimi Akinola works with NewsroomNG. Take his opinions personal if you so wish.
