Olusegun Adeniyi, erstwhile
spokesman to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has criticized the
nationwide broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former presidential spokesman
said Buhari’s address to the nation was a big disappointment, adding that
Nigerians were not expecting such a speech from him, having abandoned the
shores of Nigeria for over 100 days.
Buhari has been under attacks
after his Saturday’s broadcast where he was accused of refusing to address his
health status and other germane issues in the country.
Adeniyi while reacting to the
broadcast, said the president goofed by addressing Nigerians as ‘my dear citizens.’
He said, “After more than 100
days away from the country, President Muhammadu Buhari returned last Saturday
to a tumultuous welcome.
“It was an indication that he
still commands the popular appeal that brought him to power despite the glaring
failings of his administration. But his address to the nation on Monday fell
far short of expectations.
“First, he started with a wrong
salutation. ‘My dear citizens’ does not convey the fact that we (the president
and the rest of us) are equal stakeholders in Nigeria. In case he has
forgotten, Nigerians are not to him what Britons are to the Queen of England
where he has put up residency in recent weeks.
“Perhaps, we should not read too
much into just one speech. The president may yet surprise us if the style and
substance of his leadership change for the better in the coming weeks, though
there remains the small task of first chasing away the rodents that have taken
over the number one office in our country!
“However, those writing their own
speeches in place of Buhari’s six-minute address would have to wait until they
become president of Nigeria or that of their own little dream enclaves.
“Buhari will do this. Buhari will
do that. Those are the tales we have been hearing from some time-servers who
may not even know the man but are already positioning themselves in the media
in a bid to hijack the man and our collective destiny. Yet, the reality of our
national condition today is that
“Buhari can do practically
nothing without seeking the patience and understanding of Nigerians. And for
that to happen, Buhari must be seen to be human. That means having the courage
to admit to mistakes and failings (where they occur) along the way and being
bold enough to make course corrections.”
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Don't mind buhari. He came back with threats without knowing that u don't threaten a hungry man. Let toe the line of appeal and Nigerians will listen to him. If they told him 20yrs ago that a Nigerian will be a suicide bomber will he have believed it? So times have changed.
ReplyDeleteOga nothing was wrong with that speech, some people were talking any how and needed to talk to in a clear language they understand period
ReplyDelete