by Tolu Omoyeni

Coats (whatever the type) are not a typical Nigerian’s wardrobe staple – except for those whose destinies are autumn and winter.

For any Nigerian president however, a few good coats are essential item, because international travel.

Especially for President Muhammadu Buhari who travels more than he stays at home and only talks to international press, who can’t even hear what he is saying.

The President is currently in Germany where he is holding meetings with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel on issues that concern the economy, security and trade relations between Nigeria and Germany. But we’re not here for that, this post takes care of that.

What bothers us? Did you see the pictures of your president?

Oh God. President Buhari has donned the same rumpled trench coat since he arrived Germany.

And before you label this observation as preposterous, this is the same trench coat Baba wore to the United Kingdom when he visited former Prime Minister, David Cameron.

Some might argue that a president’s choice of clothing is inconsequential when there are pressing issues to be dealt with, especially for a country like Nigeria with a million and one problems.

Go and sit down. When you are president, everything matters.

The world judges you on how you look, on how you take care of yourself, on the attention you pay to detail. On the attention you pay to yourself.

Dress the way you want to be addressed is not just something to be used when you want to slut-shame young women who dress in a way that makes you feel like less of a man.

A same ol’ rumpled trench coat disagrees with a presidential look.

Maybe the President thinks we will be annoyed if we notice that he’s invested a few more designer coats for a change, because recession.

Considering this is a man who pals around with a considerable entourage that includes his family and who only reluctantly sold off some from his obscene collection of aircraft this week, we say ‘no, try another excuse’.

Two or three new autumn/winter coats won’t kill us, sir.

So here’s the most plausible theory: the President just doesn’t care.

Ah, oga, but you should.

Every minute detail about the personality of a leader sends a message, a rumpled coat mirrors a rumpled economy.

In this case, the message we get is that our President has a penchant for repeating things even when they didn’t work the first time.

Baba, ditch old policies and old coats, that all things may become new. Press your cloth well, and press your policies well. And while you are at it, you and Godwin Emefiele should press our floating currency well – because the entire things floats out of the economy and leaves us pressed down and shaken over.

President Buhari needs to step his game up, abeg.

He needs to change it – from the major things, like an economy he has worsened since he assumed office, to the little things, like an embarrassing suit worn into a foreign country, just before he finally embarrassed Nigeria by opening his mouth and insulting his wife.

Change is here.