Weird and shocking news originally filtered into other major news channels. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe representing the Abia-South Senatorial District of Abia State called for Senate President Olubukola Saraki to be named as the Acting President of Nigeria. His argument was on the basis that the President of Nigeria – Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice cum Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo were not in the country. While health problems and most recent reports of him needing life support have plagued the aged President, his Vice has actually been putting in a lot of work.
Olubukola Saraki quenched the fire that was the potential coup d’etat immediately as it started, but the damage was already done. Saraki had already been implicated by SaharaReporters in a report that stated that a cabal was trying to prevent Osibanjo from becoming the President of Nigeria. The news report stated that the cabal was ready to impeach Buhari so that Osibanjo would leave the State House with him and was going to install Saraki as the President of Nigeria.
Here are some takeaways from the never ending drama that is Nigeria.
- We are the leaders of tomorrow? We are not the leaders of tomorrow. The leaders of tomorrow were supposed to be the nephews and nieces or even children of the leaders of today but it’s not our reality. Our reality is that the leaders of tomorrow are the same as the leaders of yesterday. Obasanjo, Buhari, Babangida are our current political leaders and they were the leaders from the days of our dads and moms.
- There is no such thing as a patriotic politician. Politics as a career just means – it’s a means to an end, a livelihood. Much like a banker, you can’t demand loyalty to a brand when the perks are all gone. Patriotism or loyalty is really alien in these parts.
- Where is President Buhari? Our President is ill and our problems are different. Not only is this a show of incompetence, but plain old selfishness. Back when President Yar’Adua was ill, our remote president was shouting to all the rooftops asking that he be impeached. We need Nigeria to be put in rice.
- Tribalism is still too alive in Nigeria: The Igbos in Nigeria have been complaining that they have no access to a National cake. While politics in Nigeria is a numbers game and better alliances will maybe help the Igbos get the elusive President position, there are a lot of powers that be. Those powers have constantly and consistently undermined other tribes in Nigeria to further cause a divide.
Power is the most powerful thing in the world. This statement is not as redundant as it really is. Nigeria has leaders in the same mould as Robert Mugabe. We only have slightly better systems than other African countries. The only presidential thing Buhari can do now will be to resign and let his vice take up the job permanently. But that might never happen. Our president contested in all the elections, subtly threatened security and even cried.
