Last week and over the weekend, Twitter was awashed with tweets from Nigerians at home and abroad in response to different thought provoking trends. Among them were #BenBruceAt60, #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira, #LVGout etc. However,#WakaWakaBuhari and #NeedfulWaka commanded the highest number of tweets.
Nigerians took turns to lampoon the President for travelling out of the country in his usual manner despite the weak and sick state of the economy. Although, persons believed to be members of the ruling party led a counter campaign tagged #NeedfulWaka, it didn’t achieve the desired results because it backfired.
As if that was not enough, a list of countries the President has visited from May 2015 to February 2016 also circulated on social space platforms like Facebook and Whatsapp.
COUNTRIES BUHARI HAS VISITED IN JUST NINE MONTHS (300 DAYS) IN OFFICE
1) Niger Republic (May 2015)
2) CHAD (June 2015)
3) Germany (June 2015)
4) South Africa (June 2015)
5) United Kingdom (May 2015)
6) USA (July 2015)
7) Benin Republic (August 2015)
8) France (September 2015)
9) Ghana (September 2015)
10) India (October 2015)
11) Sudan (October 2015)
12) Iran (November 2015)
13) France (November 2015)
14) USA (November 2015)
15) South Africa (December 2015)
16) Benin Rep. (December 2015)
17) UAE (January 2016)
18) Kenya (January 2016)
19) Ethiopia (January 2016)
20) France (February 2016)
21) Utd. Kingdom (February 2016)
22) Egypt (February 2016)
23) Saudi Arabia (February 2016)
24) Qatar (February 2016)
The breakdown ended with the words “exchange rate is now N400 – $1 and N505 – £1”
In the course of reading the amusing tweets and broadcast messages, I recalled Garba Shehu’s November 2015 piece “We Don’t Want A Domestic President” where he praised the sense of humor of Nigerians for making amusing comments and questions over the President’s frequent oversea trips. He justified the trips by making a sharp contrast between PMB and former Nigerian dictator, General Sani Abacha.
He wrote – “Those of us who were around under Abacha read all the taunts about him being a sit-at-home leader. Abacha was despised for not representing his country abroad.” This made me curious and led me to log on to Google to search for “Nigeria’s economy during Abacha regime”. The results were stunning – especially the first one. “Abacha’s regime is controversial; although it brought dramatic economic growth to Nigeria”
I opened the link to read more and I was captivated by another shocking revelation. Here’s an excerpt – “The Abacha administration became the first to record unprecedented economic achievements: he oversaw an increase in the country’s foreign exchange reserves from $494 million in 1993 to $9.6 billion by the middle of 1997, reduced the external debt of Nigeria from $36 billion in 1993 to $27 billion by 1997, brought all the controversial privatization programs of the Babangida administration to a halt, reduced an inflation rate of 54% inherited from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to 8.5% between 1993 and 1998, all while the nation’s primary commodity, oil was at an average of $15 per barrel.”
A 2014 post by Premium Times where the Goodluck Jonathan led Federal Government defended it’s reason for honouring late General Abacha during the Centenary celebrations also corroborated the claims on the Wikipedia page. It reads “Mr. Abacha’s administration was also credited with creating the most ‘comprehensive and realistic blueprint’ for Nigeria’s development through Vision 2010 committee chaired by his predecessor, Ernest Shonekan.
A popular quotes says, “A good product will sell itself”. When we fix our economy, you don’t need go beg anyone to come invest. #needfulwaka”, it is imperative for the President to sit back at home and take the bull by the horns. In the face of a controversial budget proposal, falling currency, heightened insecurity, massive loss of jobs and astronomic rise in the price of commodities, Nigerians need to say to the president “#BabaSitAtHome”.
Comr. Jeremiah Olatinwo
Former P.R.O, NANS ZONE D (Southwest)
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So Is now that your eyes are opening tha Buhari is just a smoking screen. He has nothing to offer Nigerians apart from going after percieved enemies in the name of war against corruption. Corruption in Nigeria is just one tenth of Nigeria's problem. If the economy is booming,some of these people may not have the desire to steal. Insecurity is one major reason that people steal. Sure there is greed but is just a tiny group of people that steals out of greed and this can be corrected. But for someone who steals due to economic insecurity, that you cannot correct. Buhari has not knowledge, norrbackground to solve to Nigerians Economic problem.
ReplyDeleteLet them continue to blame the past government for all their ineptitudes, 24 countries within nine months, that is record. Have they given us tge cost of these travels? I think this man has agenda that he wants to fulfill by galivanting accross the globe. Well Nigeria is too big for you any wicked plans you msy have for this country. I feel sorry for all the sycophants from the South that cannot see the handwriting in the wall.
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious that one may never appreciate the enormous responsibility that is being shouldered by an honest leader unless we earnestly pray that God should open our eyes to see the basic cum salient facts we are missing like Elisha prayed on behalf of his servant before he could see the Chariots of Fire from Heaven that are already positioned to fight on their behalf.
ReplyDeleteThe countries so far visited are where our looted funds are currently. I'm thus surprised that some Nigerians are not seeing the benefits already accruing from the Overseas visits. By now, we have been able to gain the trust and understanding of these Countries and thus we have the assurance that our looted money located in these Countries will never grow wings till we perfect all necessary legal documentations and we get the money back for our Country's usage.
I believe all wise and discerning Nigerians are busy praying that God will help PMB in these uphill task of bringing back respect and dignity to Nigeria and Nigerians as a whole.
I would strongly advise you always do same if you are sincerely and indeed a patriotic citizen of Nigeria.
Secondly, one thing I see in Nigeria is that a lot of Nigerians unfortunately due to our inherently impatient nature do not really have a sense of belonging to the Nation.
Why do I say this, I wonder why no one at this stage is calling for the head of GEJ knowing fully well that GEJ personally headed the orchestration of plundering our dear Nation's FOREX Reserves.
We are having the disparity between official and black market today due to the irresponsible actions of GEJ.
PMB inherited a plundered economy and he is currently performing excellently well at taking courageous and difficult cum unpopular decisions to effectively manage and also salvage the situation and steer us to full recovery.
I'm sure if we have GEJ there now, Naira would easily have been devalued to N600 per USD pronto.
By this, even though I'm also personally suffering for GEJ irresponsible actions, I believe that God will help PMB turn Nigeria around.
PLEASE STOP COMPLAINING AND FINDING FAULTS, INSTEAD KEEP ENCOURAGING THIS HONEST LEADER OF THE NATION SINCE IT IS HONEST/RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT EXHALTS A NATION. KEEP PRAYING FOR PMB TO SUCCEED. PMB'S SUCCESS WILL BE OUR COLLECTIVE GAIN.
What a true talk.
DeleteI tot u could make a sense rather Dan try to justify his frivolous travellings as he is suffering from traveling. what has he achieved from his trips?is Abacha loots not coming in?did PMB also travelled for it ni?I don't have ur time today sa.
DeleteMay God's Blessings never depart from you and your household... You really spoke my mind and the real situation. This people dont know the amount of Nigeria money... Sorry, Nigeria's wealth stashed overseas. If they have a clue, they will all visit the nearest aboki and buy super glue and glue that gutter they mouth for condemning the president.
DeleteSituations are just like this, its all going to be better. We should learn to endure. Soonest, Nigeria is going to be a paradise. Y'all should watch and see. But it has to begin with sacrifices. Now that we have someone who is making these sacrifises, all he needs is support and prayers. Nothing more.
I like Baba became he will put Nigeria in the Gunniess book of record while nothing is moving in our national life.It is sad. Apc na one chance people.If I had known I would have voted for GEJ. Gej was whipping us with whip but this apc people na scorpion dem de use whip used ooo! Na one chance be this ooo! F I had known.... These govt has nothing to offer.
ReplyDeleteplease ask this man question. How many presidents and prime ministers in advanced countries seat at home without going to external countries for one thing or the other for the progress of their respective countries. These unconstructive oppositions don't like us the poor people ooooo. don't mind them Nigerians
ReplyDeletename the presidents and foreign ministers of the countries that travel at least 3x in every month and go outside and talk rubbish about their country. sit at home, save our money. if you know the millions of dollars that go down each travel. calculate his DTA and the esta codes of all his entourage you will shut up. this is a smart official way of embezzling public funds. let your foreign minister do the travelling, talk from home. when you travel once, we will know that you travelled. if you are a father and you travel like this, aimlessly trust me, one day you come back and your children will be calling you uncle and calling the gateman their daddy!
ReplyDeleteOur dear PMB, it's indeed a daunting task for you to be the one personally visiting all these Countries.
ReplyDeleteUnderstandably the Nation has been plundered by GEJ and his cohorts and the reputation of the Nation battered into tatters.
Our prayer is that God will help you succeed in your honest desire to steer the Nation back to full recovery, regaining it's lost glory among League of Nations and repairing our tattered image.
May God continue to give you the strength and encouragement you need to remain focused and undaunted.
Wishing you journey mercies and good speed in Jesus name, Amen.
IT IS NOT EASY TO RULE A SOPHISTICATED COUNTRY LIKE NIGERIA! MY ADVICE IS THAT NIGERIANS SHOULD LEARN TO BE PATIENT FOR CHANGE WOULD EMERGE VERY SOON. REALISTICALLY, THE IMAGE OF THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE PAST ADMINISTRATIONS AND IN ORDER TO REDRESS THE IMAGE, PMB MUST MAKE EXTENSIVE TRAVELLING IN ORDER TO CONVINCE THE WORLD THAT WE SINCERELY NEED OUR LOOTED FUNDS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES. BY MY CALCULATION, TRILLION OF NAIRA ARE STACKED ABROAD WHILE NIGERIA IS SUFFERING UNDULY FOR LACK OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE. LET PMB UTILIZE HIS GOD'S GIVEN WISDOM TO RETURN THE FUNDS BACK TO NIGERIA. PLEASE, NIGERIANS, LET US LEARN TO BE PATIENT AND RESPECT OUR PRESIDENT. TRAVELLING BY ITSELF INVOLVES RISK AND AT HIS AGE, THE TRAVEL MIGHT HAVE ADVERSE EFFECT ON HIS HEALTH! WE MUST ALL PRAY FOR GOOD HEALTH FOR OUR PRESIDENT FOR HE NEEDS SOUND HEALTH TO EXECUTE THE ONEROUS TASKS AHEAD OF HIM. HIS ENEMIES AND DETRACTORS WOULD NOT SEE HIM SUCCEED, BUT WITH GOD ON HIS SIDE, HE MUST SUCCEED.
ReplyDelete