by Alexander O. Onukwue

President Buhari has been in the news for the past 48 hours, not for returning to Nigeria from a vacation that has now lasted 50 days, but for a speech apparently given by him in Hausa language to commemorate Eid-al-Fitr.

The contentious speech has generated a lot of buzz in media circles as to why the President of Nigeria would have to speak to the nation in the language of one of the many ethnic groups. It has drawn comparisons with the perception that former President Goodluck Jonathan was an ‘Ijaw President’, but even President Jonathan did not make national addresses in native Ijaw.

But why did President Buhari have to make the Eid-al-Fitr address in the first place? He has been away since May 7. In the intervening period, he was not present for the 50th anniversary of the Biafra declaration, and for the second anniversary of his administration. In his place, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo did the honours of delivering the remarks to commemorate both events.

Why, then, in the case of the feast was there a need for Buhari himself to have to make the address? Was it to convince Nigerians who suspect the President is becoming impaired in his speech that there is no cause to worry? Would an Eid-al-Fitr speech from the Acting President not be perceived as Presidential enough?

The threats of violence and ethnic tensions around the country have seen Osinbajo continue to conduct wide and varied consultations with leaders from different parts of the country, both North and South, and from key sectors including the media. In a bid to maintain peaceful co-existence, the Acting President has continued to demonstrate bold leadership that has crossed ethnic and religious divides.

With such stable and capable leadership in place, albeit on a temporary basis, there should have been no need for gimmicks that portray unnecessary ‘in-charge-ness’. It is bad enough that the President has stayed so long away from the country at the expense of taxpayers without a word from him or his handlers. When he finally speaks, it is not to update us on his health or when he returns, but on a matter that could easily be communicated by the Acting President.

It is a distraction for the Presidency and for the country that the Acting President could really do without right now.

Editor