Mr. President's Fault-Filled Address

by Eze Eluchie,

Without any apologies for a 100+ days absence from the country over which he is supposed to be presiding as President, the ensuing international odium and embarrassment Nigeria and Nigerians had to contend with on account of their absentee-President, the Nigerian ruler, in his first national broadcast choose the part of filibustering, issuing threats, drawing imaginary red-lines and sanctimoniously projecting his beliefs regarding the Nigerian polity as a fait accompli.

Whoever wrote the address for the Nigerian President needs to go for more training in Presidential speech writing. The address takes off with a fallacy: 'My dear citizens'. Nigerians are not Buhari's 'dear citizens'! Presuming Buhari's citizenship is ascertained, Nigerians are Buhari's fellow citizens! The mindset of a population being mistaken for 'my dear citizens', belonging to the ruler of the contraption, to the 'supreme citizen' of the polity, has often times led to very dire outcomes.  

Whilst we welcome Muhammadu Buhari back to Nigeria from his protracted medical tourism trip to the United Kingdom and wish him more years ahead in good health, it is pertinent in view of the multiple agitations from diverse constituent entities of the Nigerian state, that the following facts are appreciated:

* It is delusional to think of any national borders as not-negotiable.

* Nigerians never decided on discourse of national issues as ‘national red lines’!

* Nigerians are entitled and empowered to engage in national discourse; no statutory bodies whatsoever has exclusive rights to engage in this vocation.

* Buhari’s reference to a so-called discussion he had with late Odumegwu Ojukwu (even if such ever took place) is misplaced and irrelevant.

* Further reference in the address of ‘bringing back order, if necessary with their blood’, is typical, unnecessarily threatening and unfortunate.

As evidenced by the video below of European borders over the past 1000 years, national borders are transient and liable to amendments at the will of the people and depending on several factors – they are not, and can never be, permanent.

Nigeria must be Restructured & Renegotiated – time to do this peacefully is fast ebbing away!

Video: Very dynamic borders of European countries over the past 1000 years:
http://ow.ly/rGdx30eyh1r


Picture: Nigeria's President Buhari, during a nationwide broadcast after staying away from Nigeria for medical reasons for 106 days.