He was already above 70 years when he was voted in as the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Nothing can be more dumb than voting a 70 year old man into power and not expecting him to take some time off, to take more than a passing interest in his health!
If Democracy prescribes a mandate given by an agreed, substantial percentage of the voters, was democracy also, so dumb and stupid that it would not acknowledge the eggshell skull rule or thin skull rule?
A legal doctrine in Common law, the rule simply points out that, in a tort case, the unexpected frailty of the injured person is not a valid defense.
Categorically speaking, President Muhammadu Buhari was voted to clean what most perceived as the stinking Aegean stable: the festering corruption. And while the crudity of the EFCC and its Acting Chairman, Magu may have done more harm than good to Buhari’s government’s image, (remember the PDP guy brought to court in handcuffs several times etc) the alleged ‘returns’ from the proceeds of the nation’s most beautiful Minister, Diezeani Allison Madueke and the revelations on the wastage of resources meant to procure arms and ammunition to curb the Boko Haram insurgency on engaging among other things, Islamic prayer warriors to win election, shows Buhari has not failed the nation. It should only remind us of the story of the Samaritan!
The Samaritan had interestingly watched the young lad demolished two bars of chocolate, before dipping his left hand and flipping out a giant stick of stone cold ice cream from his lunch pack; instantly burying a sizeable proportion in his mouth.
“Young man”, called out the Samaritan to the plumpy lad; “do you know that eating sugary things can be damaging to your health? Do you realize…”. The boy took another bite of the delicious cream before responding:
“My grandfather lived to a ripe age of 99 years!”
“Eating chocolates?”
“No. Minding his own business Sir!”
Only journalists are paid, not to mind their business! Sadly, in Nigeria today, several people, especially highly people, who have nothing tangible to do are also, not minding their business.
It is painful to see the picture of a granddad, an Area Fada in the neighbourhood of 70 years, being manhandled by market traders in Abuja, because he wouldn’t mind his own business!
Salaries are being paid. Ministers are being sworn in, with portfolios apportioned. The wheel of government was certainly running. Yet, the dumbest were only counting the number of days a President had spent on medical vacation in London!
And of course, as expected, when the lion is away, the hyenas: packs with questionable philosophy, naturally go on the prowl!
But when the lion comes back? Again, it is compulsorily, back to the status quo ante! Already, the Recalcitrant Arewa Youths have withdrawn or revoke the October 1 Quit Notice it issued to the Igbos in the North. And Nnamdi Kanu has ‘smartly amended’ the virulence of his hate speech.
Honestly, I would not be surprised if in the near future, I also find the hate-speech general, worshipping in a Church, pastored by a Yoruba!
In the meantime, kindly take the time off, to reflect on the ‘transparency’ of Customs Auction sales, of impounded vehicles.
Hitherto, such auctions were secretly done. The basic idea was to ‘punish’ the unscrupulous ‘importers’, for attempting to evade duty payment; while maximally ‘protecting’ the auction winner or new buyer. In the present dispensation, the Customs Comptroller General, Hameed Ali’s transparency rules demands that the bidder first submit his tax particulars, detailing home and office addresses; to bid for N25m Caryene or Lexus at N2m. And, as if that was not enough, to pick and cart away your ‘victory’ in public glare, with klieg lights of the paparazzi, hailing you to high heavens!
In a country where pump action riffles are now being moved illegally or routinely through the Lagos ports??!!
Would anyone doubt that a man who can import a car worth over N20m and play yo-yo with it, cannot follow the new owner home, and mark him down for a vengeful attack, few months after?
Now, see how dumb we have carried the ‘transparency toga’ up to?
We join the millions of voiceless Nigerians in welcoming President Buhari, back to Abuja. Those who came to London, particularly on Government tickets were not more loyal or patriotic! The 180m of us would have come too. But for flight or visas restriction!
We had prayed for the President’s good health in his absence. Now, we must add to the prayer points, something about the voracious rats and nimbly cockroaches. Apologies to Tunji Braithwaite’s revered political party.
Like Mr President rightly reflected: Buhari might not always be in Abuja for us. But Nigeria would forever be with us. Let’s obtain now, insecticide ‘nets’ for the ‘mosquitoes’ and stronger wire cages for the ‘hyenas’!
May the President live forever!
