Each day President Muhammadu Buhari makes a prominent move something makes me wonder if he is the messiah Nigeria wants or we need to wait for another.
Before his inauguration on May 29, I was unapologetic in my views and defence of him as the best man for the job. I tried to defend that thought of Buhari as the best by voting for him since 2003 when he entered into the political fray.
But my wife, a professional colleague, differed with me on Buhari, not only on religion, ethnicity and his “rigid” disposition, and would not cast her ballot for him until during the last presidential election when I finally persuaded her.
Through subtle blackmail and by marshalling hard facts on what the previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administrations could not do right which the Buhari administration would correct if voted into power, I persuaded my wife to change her mind and see why the retired general should get the job.
Contrary to my expectation, she acceded and even became more strident in her campaign for Buhari. My joy knew no bounds.
What is more, she became so drawn to Buhari after watching one of the documentaries which the PDP ran on him which she interpreted as an attempt to assassinate his character and make him unelectable.
Of course I reminded her that blackmail and propaganda were the tools deployed by the PDP since 2003 Buhari entered into partisan politics to shut him out of power.
Today, unfortunately, I am torn between blaming myself for the unfettered support I have given to Buhari that I am even beginning to think if I indeed guided my wife aright in her choice.
If it took the earlier lopsided appointments Buhari made to have a rethink that the man is suitable for the job, his ministerial nominees underscored that position and left me wondering if there would be anything fresh about this administration.
It does not really matter that my better half has insisted on supporting Buhari regardless of all the glaring shortcomings and deliberate decisions he has taken that seem to validate the thinking of most Nigerians opposed to his second coming into power that the leopard never changes his spot.
As my friend, the United Democratic Party (UDP) presidential candidate in the last general election, Godson Okoye, reads this piece, he would be all over himself with laughter because he was one of those who cautioned me against thinking that Buhari would do any magic if given the opportunity to rule the country again.
On Tuesday, October 6, the Senate read out the letter Buhari sent to it which contained the names of his first batch of 21 ministerial nominees.
Senate President Bukola Saraki called out the names of the would be ministers if they pass the screening commencing on Tuesday, October 13.
The nominees are former Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Chris Ngige (Anambra), Ogbonnaya Onu (Abia), and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).
Other include Abdurrahman Dambazau (Kano), Aisha AlHassan (Taraba), Kemi Adeosun (Ogun), Abubakar Malami (Kebbi), Sirika Hadi (Katsina), Adebayo Shittu (Oyo), Sulaiman Adamu (Jigawa), Solomon Dalong (Plateau), Ibe Kachikwu (Delta), Osagie Ehanire (Edo), Lai Mohammed (Kwara), Udoma Udo-Udoma (Akwa Ibom), Ahmed Isa Ibeto (Niger), Audu Ogbeh (Benue), Amina Mohammed (Gombe), and Ibrahim Jibril.
Online reports and social media platforms were awash with views of all shades, some tending towards the ridiculous because of the names of nominees and their pedigrees.
To some Nigerians, what Buhari had sent so far to the Senate for consideration is nothing but the appreciation list of those who helped him win election. But to me, it is simply a compilation of fallen angels.
They are not like the fallen angels in the Bible, but those perceived to be angels but whom never live up to the name because of their political actions and inactions, some of which re despicable.
Nigerians are tired of seeing the faces of most of them, having occupied the political space for too long without being able to turn around the fortunes of citizens.
Among the nominees are former governors and recycled former government officials who did little to add value to their states, ministries, departments or agencies. Is Buhari fixated on people who are old like himself?
Rather than picking younger Nigerians, we see the likes of Audu Ogbeh who was a minister 33 years ago. Nobody is saying Ogbeh is incompetent but the huge promises made by this government cannot be delivered by tired hands.
The National Chairman of Labour Party, Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, said: “The ministerial list is filled with recycled politicians and individuals. From independence to date, the same set of people are being recycled.
“Governors who ruled their states recklessly are on the list. They never considered any youth worthy of consideration as a minister. Many of them are analogs and are not in tune with modern day expectations.”
Tony Opara posted on his facebook wall: “I have a lot of respect for Audu Ogbeh for his integrity but after becoming party chairman of the PDP for that matter, I do not think it’s right for him to be a minister at this time.
“He served as minister nearly 30 years ago.
“What else can he bring to the table at this time? This government needs men of integrity like the president, but agility and 21st-century thinking are also required. Ogbeh should take a bow into retirement.”
If these faces we have seen are the ones to provide the change this government is mounting, why are we still where we are, given that a good number of them have been in and out of government and constantly in the corridors of power?
Pronto, I did not see an infallible angel on Buhari’s list. What I saw can at best be described as 21 APC strategists who contributed to his campaign.
I also saw familiar people who have been part and parcel of the challenges this country has been having over the years.
It is now that I appreciate fully what Okoye has always said that “Buhari’s age would not allow him take those critical decisions and steps that would have been taken by a younger president of my age.”
Except Buhari is playing chess with Nigerians by trying to satisfy the initial curiosity of his party men and women who would want to be seen to be part of his cabinet, what he has unveiled cannot deliver the change we crave.
He must work hard to win back my heart.
