Power, especially one conferred as a result of high public office position, creates a dangerous phenomenon. An imaginary protective shield is automatically erected around you. People around you want to please you always. They only say what they believe wouldn’t hurt you. They tell you whatever you want to hear and not what you need to hear! They tell you you are the best ever! They probably only give you positive feedback from people as regards your administration.
This is why I don’t envy President Muhammadu Buhari. Being President of Nigeria at a period as historic as this is no mean feat! It is a taxing job; one that requires a lot of wisdom and understanding.
Constructive criticism is needed to ensure that public office holders are constantly reminded that governance is no ‘tea party’. It is required to keep public office holders on their toes! It is essential so as to push public office holders to always act in the interest of the people.
To be more specific, let us examine the current administration. The Buhari-led government lacks the kind of credible opposition that PDP got while in power for 16 years. The PDP while not yet dead and buried, has failed woefully in serving as a focal point of constructive criticism! Their vituperations championed by circus clowns like Fayose, Metuh, and Fani-Kayode, have been mostly pointless!
The onus is therefore on conscionable Nigerians, youths especially, to serve as a focal point for constructive criticism. It is more important for the warriors that championed the Change campaign that brought in PMB, to be as loud as they can be, with their criticisms. They gave too much, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and even spiritually to the vision! They have invested too much that it will be foolhardy to decide to rest their oars now!
It is however saddening that many young Nigerians that should ensure that the Buhari-led government gets credible opposition are in two conundrums ; they are either ‘wailing wailers’ or Die-hard ‘Buharists’. The former category needs no introduction! The latter category belongs to the Buhari-can-never-be-wrong party! They mindlessly defend every action or inaction of Buhari! Buhari is a demigod to them! This portends a grave danger for the current administration if not reversed! Not having a credible opposition is bad enough. Having praise singers, the kind that ‘kobalized‘ Uncle Hero (GEJ) is super scary!
Yes, we should lend our praise-singing voices sometimes so as not to further worsen the level of hopelessness many Nigerians have in a better Nigeria. However, our loudest voices should be reserved for the quest to make the Buhari-led government more responsive, accountable and transparent!
We cannot afford to get it wrong at this moment because we’re at a crossroad. Buhari either sets Nigeria on a path of recovery, or sets it back several miles! There’s nothing in between! This is why we can never afford to be docile or praise-singers!
The Buhari honeymoon is over! Unless, we all pretend to be blind, deaf and dumb, we all realize that many aspects of the Buhari administration have been uninspiring, chief being his PR!
We need to always remind Buhari that the wind of change that swept him into power can also sweep him and his Party out come 2019!
We cannot get it wrong! It took efforts/convictions of huge proportions to kick out PDP! Buhari and APC cannot afford to throw away this golden chance to save Nigeria from the throes of under-development.
Saheed Animashaun (@ani_gene) is a Corps Member and Social Commentator.
Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates
