2015-06-29

Since May 29, President Muhammadu Buhari has been piloting the affairs of the nation without a cabinet. ANULE EMMANUEL reviews activities of the Buhari’s one-month-old presidency

The word ‘Change’ prior to the 2015 general elections, no doubt, was a household name in almost every part of Nigeria just like it became synonymous with the new Muhammadu Buhari administration in Nigeria’s political parlance.

Nigerians indeed need change that would transform all sectors of the economy and improve their standard of living. Interestingly, President Buhari who comes with promises tailored in this regard, although may not be seen as a Messiah, is held in high esteem with the qualities and strong-willed character of a non-blemish and incorruptible personality that would deliver. But the nation’s challenges are enormous and the time and resources needed to combat them are in short supply.

The belief, however, is that having prepared for the presidency and thrown the shots several times, President Buhari is abreast with the fact that Nigerians have been yearning for change that would propel speedy economic growth at all levels with their improved living conditions.

The emergence of President Buhari therefore in the March 28 presidential election, no doubt, rekindled the hope of better days ahead. Having defeated incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election and sworn in on May 29, the president who understands that he has no time to waste in meeting the great expectations of Nigerians have since hit the ground running. From hosting diplomats and visiting Heads of State and Presidents who attended the inauguration ceremony to a gala night at the Presidential Villa, the President has also engaged the leadership of the armed forces to know the state of affairs regarding security of the country for further actions.

He has equally embarked on foreign trips and met with world leaders, seeking for support in tackling the insurgency in the North-East as well as also taken major decision to stabilise the polity. But with the speed which Nigerians expect that the President will take off, he is yet to make any major appointment including that of his cabinet members.

The President has since assumption of office only announced the appointment of his media aides, the State House Chief of Protocol and Accountant-General of the Federation. The crisis in both chambers of the National Assembly concerning the election of its leadership has however been blamed on the delay.

Day one: Power changes hands

On May 29, the baton of leadership changed hands. At the Eagle Square in Abuja, the venue of the presidential inauguration, President Jonathan’s rein came to an end. General Buhari took over the driver’s seat of Nigeria’s leadership at an event attended by world leaders, diplomats and who is who in Nigeria.

In keeping with his campaign promises to provide a more purposeful leadership for Nigerians, President Buhari and his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, shortly after taken the oath of office and allegiance, performed their first official assignment signalling the beginning of a new era with the hosting of heads of governments and presidents to a luncheon at the new banquet hall of the Presidential Villa.

Of course, the event was organised to appreciate the foreign leaders for their patience and interest in witnessing how Nigeria made history with the smooth transition of power from a democraticallyelected president to another.

Although, Buhari did not stay to the end of the luncheon, Vice-President Osinbajo, who stood in for him, assured the visitors of Nigeria’s desire to strengthen diplomatic ties with friends, nations and working towards a beneficial foreign policy. The President later hosted guests and friends to a gala night where he thanked supporters and re-assured Nigerians of his government’s readiness to face headon, the task ahead.

Day two: No activity

Saturday May 30 passed without an activity, apparently Buhari and Osinbajo took off time to rest.

Day three: Appointments

On Sunday May 31, the President made his first appointments of close aides. He announced two officers, who barring any changes would in the next four years help manage his image and establish feedback mechanism for the administration.

They both hold the portfolio of media and publicity. President Buhari announced Mr. Femi Adesina, a former Managing Director and Editorin- Chief of the Sun Newspaper as Special Adviser while Mallam Garba Shehu, a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) like Adesina, was named Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity. On the same day, he also approved the appointment of Lawal Abdullahi Kazaure as the Chief of Protocol (SCOP) in the State House.

Day four: Condolences

The first day in the month of June also witnessed a low event at the Defence House. President Buhari issued two statements first, condoling the governor and people of Anambra State, over the unfortunate death of 60 persons who died when a petrol tanker crashed into a busy bus station in Onitsha.

He described the incident as sad and unfortunate. On the same day, the President extended condolences to the Vice President of United States, Joe Biden, who had lost his son, Beau Biden, to cancer.

Day five: Meeting with Service Chiefs

On Tuesday June 2, the President was locked up in a crucial meeting with the nation’s security chiefs. Indeed, he had told Nigerians in his inaugural speech that three things that would be accorded immediate priority by his government are power, security and the continued problem of fuel scarcity across the country.

The meeting with the top military officers lasted for over five hours. Of course, the military brass took time to brief the president on the state of affairs regarding the security of the country and the level of progress on the Boko Haram crisis in the North-East. One major decision that came from the extended meeting was the perfection of arrangement to finally move the Military Command-Centre on Boko Haram to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

That all-important meeting which lasted for over five hours was attended by the National Security Adviser (NSA) to former President Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd); Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Adeola Amosu as well as the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.

The day was actually loaded for the President. The National Chairman of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had also visited with his National Working Committee (NWC) members earlier.

The APC chairman told reporters after meeting with the President that: “I led my colleagues in the NWC of the APC to pay their respects to the president.” He said that they were unable to do so before that time because they wanted the event to move to the ultimate climax which was his installation as President and Commander-in-Chief and that has occurred.

Day six: The Niger/Chad trip

On Wednesday June 3, President Buhari departed for Niamey, Niger Republic after being equipped with the necessary information to begin talks with the Nigerien government on how they could better cooperate with Nigeria in ending the insurgency in the North-East.

During his stay in Niamey, he got the commitment of the country in rekindling its support to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram. “Your decision to move the military command of Nigeria to the North-East has further strengthened our conviction that the war against terrorism will soon come to an end,” Niger’s President Issoufou Mahamadou assured Buhari. President Issoufou gave an assurance that Niger will continue to support Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram. On his part, President Buhari told President Issoufou that the Nigerian Army which had earned a good reputation across the world, remained a virile fighting force.

Day seven: Talks on Boko Haram

After conferring with the Niger President, Buhari proceeded to Chad Republic the following day, June 4, where he held meetings with the Chadian leader on similar security challenges and key role countries of the sub-region needed to play to assist Nigeria.

While he was on the foreign trip to the two African countries, his vice, Osinbajo siezed the opportunity to visit Anambra State where he condoled with victims of the unfortunate fuel tanker accident and sympathised with the government and people of the state over the tragic incident. The Vice President made the visit on behalf of President Buhari. Buhari returned to the country on Thursday evening, and was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by top government functionaries and politicians.

Day eight: Award for Danjuma

Friday June 5 witnessed low turnout of events. The president had written to condole with the government and people of Ghana over the dual tragedy of flooding and fire outbreak which claimed scores of lives in the country.

For Buhari, while sympathising with the people of Ghana, the tragic event of the flood incident undoubtedly reminds leaders and governments in the West African sub-region of their responsibilities to the problem of global warming. Later in the evening of the same day, Osinbajo represented the president where the government conferred on General Theophilus Danjuma and five other Nigerians an environmentalfriendly award. The entire world was marking the day as the World Environment Day.

Day nine/10: G-7 Summit

In continuation of his consultations across regional and continental borders, President Buhari on June 6, jetted out of the country and headed to Germany where he attended the G-7 summit for the first time.

He had been invited to participate in some of the outreach programmes at the summit by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel even before he was sworn in on May 29. Nigeria is not a member of the group.

Interestingly, the President during the two-day event interacted with other world leaders including the President of the United States, Barrack Obama; Secretary- General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon and secured their promises in assisting Nigeria end the insurgency. Specially, Germany, France and Canada assured the government of military and intelligence cooperation in executing the war against Boko Haram.

Day 11: Trouble in the National Assembly

President Buhari returned from the Germany trip on Tuesday June 9 and was scheduled to meet with Senators and House of Representatives members elected on the platform of the APC ahead of the election of their principal officers, a meeting which never held. His failure to attend the purported meeting sent a signal of his resolve that he had no interest in meddling in the selection process of the National Assembly leadership. All through the day, Buhari and his team glued to the television watching events as they unfolded on both floors of the legislative chambers.

Against the wishes of his party, both Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, emerged in a process that was heavily criticised by the party’s leadership.

But the President in his promised transparent and neutral posture issued a statement same day, insisting that he had no preferred candidate in that election and was prepared to work with whoever became the leaders in any of the chambers.This singular position apparently calmed down the tempo with the party leadership also rescinding its earlier stand not to recognise Saraki and Dogara.

Day 12: Security meetings

On June 10, President Buhari continued with another series of meetings. He met with the Chief of Defence Staff, Badeh; the Chief of Naval Staff, Jubril and the National Security Adviser, Dasuki to perfect arrangements for a meeting of Heads of State and Governments of the Lake Chad Basin Commission that had been scheduled to meet in Abuja the next day.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Ismali Aliyu, told reporters after the two-hour meeting that they were at the Defence House to brief the President on preparations for a scheduled meeting of head of states and presidents in Abuja to discuss on the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). Aliyu also said that the meeting discussed the citing of the operational headquarters of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) deployed by the member states of the LCBC and Benin, to combat the Boko Haram terrorist group.

Day 13: Buhari meets four presidents

Having concluded discussions on plans for the meeting, President Buhari on Thursday June 11 met with Presidents Paul Biya of Cameroon, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic, Idriss Deby of Chad and Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where they all agreed on providing the needed support for the operation of the MNJTF in tackling the menace of the Boko Haram sect in the North-East and the sub-region.

Knowing fully well that Nigeria is worst hit by the insurgency, President Buhari did not hesitate to redeem an earlier pledge by the country of $100 million as funding to support the MNJTF. Nigeria had made the commitment under the Goodluck Jonathan administration to provide the task force with the fund as part of her obligation.

He had during the meeting re-echoed the need to strengthen cross border patrol and intelligence sharing with more efforts targeted at limiting the insurgents’ capacity to access funds and weapons. A major decision which was agreed by the leaders at the Abuja meeting was to forward military requirements of the member states to the G-7 and seek the African Union support in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency.

Day 14: Interacts with Chibok mothers

It was a moment of tears at the Defence House on Friday June 12 when the President received two mothers from Chibok village, whose daughters are among the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram insurgents more than a year ago.

The brief event was attended by both the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo. The President spoke to the women in both English and Hausa explaining that he keeps telling everybody to put themselves in their shoes. That moment provided Buhari and his wife as well as the wife of the Vice President to show that they are truly a father and mothers.

Earlier in the day, President Buhari had also held meetings with the National chairman of the APC, Oyegun, before receiving a report from the Ahmed Jodaled transition committee. Joda and his team submitted an 800-page document containing observations and recommendations following a careful study of the handover notes that the APC transition committee received from the government of President Jonathan.

Day 15: Attends AU summit

In pushing further negotiations and seeking support for the fight against Boko Haram, the President on Saturday June 13 took the message to the 25th African Union summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. For the first time, he had the opportunity to chair the meeting of the Peace and Security Committee of the AU summit. While the President left the country, his wife, Aisha, hosted APC women and youths from across the 36 states to an appreciation dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At an event which was a gathering of the de cream de la cream, the President’s wife took time to caution politicians and associates of her husband on pursuing parochial interest other than the nation’s development.

In South Africa, President Buhari advised African leaders to work strongly towards changing the face of the continent. He said leaders must deliver a continent “that is at peace with itself, prosperous, a global partner and a democratic showcase.”

While lamenting the spate of crisis in the continent, the President approved the release of $21 million as part of the $100 million commitment to the operations of the MNJTF. He also seized the opportunity to interact with the Nigerian community in South Africa.

Day 16 and 17: Age and performance

At a ceremony which held on Sunday June 14, the president told a gathering of Nigerians in South Africa that considering his thinking for the country, he wished he had become President at a younger age.He said: “How I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.” This comment sparked off criticisms but immediately put into better perspective by his media aides. President Buhari returned to the country on Tuesday June 16.

Day 18-22: Abuja, Daura and Ramadam

After meeting with chieftains of the APC including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar at the Defence House where he had been living, the President proceeded to Kaduna same day before proceeding to Daura, his village in Katsina State where he started his Ramandan fasting. He remained in Daura and continued with official functions, issuing statements of condolences and congratulations to some high profile Nigerians who celebrated birthdays while sympathising with the Chadian government for the twin suicide bombings which took place in the country’s capital.

Day 23: Buhari moves to Villa

President Buhari returned to Abuja on Saturday June 20 and proceeded straight to occupy his official residence at the Presidential Villa which had been under renovation since his inauguration on May 29. His wife, Aisha, had moved in with members of the first family on Thursday in the absence of her husband.

Day 24 and 25: First day at work, meeting with the media

The President spent his first night at the villa on Saturday and rested through Sunday June 21 to resume official duties at the Oval Office on Monday June 22. Since he occupied the Oval Office, it has been work all through.

One of the official assignments carried out by the president at the Villa on the first day was his meeting with the Service Chiefs. The nation’s security chiefs including the Chief of Defence Staff, Badeh; Chief Army Staff, Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Jubril and the Chief of Air Staff, Amosu were at the presidential villa where they briefed the President on further developments regarding strategies of tackling the security problems being faced by the country.

One highpoint of the meeting was a directive from the President for the removal of all military checkpoints on the roads with exception of areas perceived by the military as susceptible to Boko Haram attacks. Later in the evening, President Buhari met with State House Correspondents very unexpectedly.

Giving his antecedent as someone with a sour relationship with the press, no member of the press corps expected a quick meet with the President. Maybe, now as a democratically-elected leader, he is a changed person and ready to make new friends in the media. The President was ushered in by two of his media aides, Adesina and Shehu, at the gathering which saw him exchanged pleasantries with every reporter including some staff of the media office.

Day 26: Governors, emirs at the Villa

On Tuesday June 23, President Buhari met with governors of the 36 states of the federation at the Presidential Villa to find a way out of the crisis facing the country regarding dwindling revenues and inability of some state governments to pay workers’ salaries. It was during the meeting that the president vowed to pursue all government officials who abused offices in recent past and stole from the treasury until they return such monies.

The president told the governors that the rot in the country’s financial system was worse than what was experienced in the Second Republic. He promised to put the system back on track. President Buhari also same day met with members Northern Council of Traditional Rulers, who came to express their solidarity for his government. They were led to the Villa by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III. He told the traditional rulers that interestingly, his administration has received firm assurances and cooperation from the United States and other countries on the recovery and repatriation of funds stolen from the nation’s treasury.

Later in the night, the president met separately with governors elected on the platform of the APC at the Presidential Villa where they discussed the leadership crisis in both chambers of the National Assembly.

Both the president and governors agreed that there was need for members of the party to respect the decision of the party. At the meeting, the governors assured Buhari that they would move in to intervene on the matter and invite the lawmakers to a meeting.

Day 27: Of Buhari’s security and DSS

On Wednesday June 24, there was low key activities in the Villa but a major decision which appeared to be causing friction among security agencies in the seat of power was taken. The President through his Aide de Camp, Lt Col Muhammed Abubakar was alleged to have driven all men of the Department of State Security (DSS) out of the Villa.

Although, the Presidency has denied such development, insisting that it was normal realignment of security around the President which entailed that members of the armed forces would man the inner perimeter of the President security while operatives of the DSS would man the outer perimeter.

The suspicion is that the President may have not forgotten the involvement of the DSS in politics in the build up to the March presidential election. As it is presently, officers and men of the Army have since taken this position.

Day 28: ECOWAS’ president at the Villa

On June 25, the President granted audience to President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Mr. Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, where he restated his view that greater regional and international cooperation was needed to ensure victory over terrorism in Nigeria and other countries. He assured Ouedraogo that Nigeria would hold further consultations with other stakeholders to agree on a new date for the ECOWAS-ECCAS security summit on Boko Haram, earlier scheduled to hold in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on April 8, 2015. The President also appointed Ahmed Idris as Accountant General of the Federation.

Day 29: President dissolves NNPC board President Buhari

on Friday June 26 announced the dissolution of the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). This decision is one that has long been expected from his government by Nigerians. The oil sector particularly the NNPC is one agency which the new government has vowed to investigate considering the rot that has gone in the management of the sector in recent times. That decision is the singular one and assignment carried by the president on Friday. He had earlier in the day held the Jumat prayer with Muslim faithful in the Presidential Villa for the first time.

Day 30 and 31: Days of rest

Saturday June 29 came without an activity in the Presidential Villa. There was no travel and statement of policy action from the government. Yesterday, June 28, was another resting day for the President and his vice, Osinbajo. It was a quiet time as Christians attended the Aso Rock Chapel but with the absence of the vice president. President Buhari stayed all through the day in his residence. With a month passed by, there seems to be little achievement from the Buhari administration with regards to the record of events. It is all about familiarisation and crucial talks with relevant stakeholders.

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