Rotimi Akinola: President Muhammadu Buhari’s body language threatens my patriotism
I will not lose my patriotism. God forbid. Leaders come and go. And Muhammadu Buhari shall pass.
But the president’s actions make me question why I believe this country could ever work.
How do you do it? The men under your command “accidentally” fired three missiles into a civilian community in Rann, Borno State, killing scores and leaving many more wounded. Humanitarian workers who dedicated their lives to caring for internally displaced persons – whom government officials continue to plunder – were also killed.
I was shocked. I’m still in shock. Three missiles. Boom! Boom! Boom. Blood, limbs, charred garments everywhere. And after three days, the Number One Citizen of the Federation woke vacationing in London! God!
He didn’t visit the wounded. He only said “Sorry we bombed you guys. We thought you were Boko Haram terrorists. This kind of mistake happens in other countries too. So, suck it up.” He then sent errand boys to deliver presidential condolences to Rann’s bereaved.
Next? He’s vacationing in London – a city where none of the IDPs scattered across Nigeria can afford to live in. Buhari, on tax-payer’s money, after budgeting billions to bring the clinic at Aso Rock up to “international standard”, goes on medical vacation in a foreign country. Fantastic.
Fantastically patriotic.
After Rann’s disaster, millions in Borno State looked up to the president for inspiration but he let them down. Rann’s wounded can’t even get basic medical treatment as our president, Buhari, receives top-notch healthcare in a saner clime. The UN had to send medical supplies to Borno so injured survivors wont’s succumb to their wounds.
And Buhari will be somewhere in a London hospital enjoying what he promised to deliver to his people but has so far failed to do.
Tell me, why should I continue to be a patriotic Nigerian?
Rotimi Akinola’s column features on NewsroomNG every Thursday.
