BETWEEN A PAMPERED PRESIDENT AND THE LAZY YOUTH
There is a popular saying in this part of the world that “even when a fox makes mistakes, it is not in the position of the fowl to say it”. The reason is that the fowl is an easy prey for the fox and you don’t provoke your predator because you might be consumed.
After watching the viral infamous video of President Muhammadu Buhari referring to Nigeria Youths as lazy illiterates who just want to sit at home and do nothing because Nigeria has oil, I was taken aback. This latest derogatory remark is not the first time he is doing this, and each time he does it, he always get away with it, but this time around he needs to be properly schooled.
Take for instance, during the build up to the 2015 general election, then candidate Buhari was asked to summit his academic qualifications which generated questions about his WAEC results. He was asked to provide it but instead of doing that, he employed the services of 13 Senior Advocates of Nigeria to protect him. Apparently he’s got none. It is noteworthy to remind us that Nigeria Youth stood with him and assured him that even if he produce a NEPA bill, they will still vote him and this they did. Nigerians allowed him to get away with that scandal unchallenged.
Also, it is customary everywhere in the world that candidates seeking elective posts engage themselves in election debate. This helps them interact and try to outdo each other, and to also convince the electorate to vote them. The beauty of electoral debate is that it affords the electorate to see the candidates for who they are, which will in turn help them to make a better choice. In a debate, there are no prepared speech, no packaged interview and no prearranged questions. Whatever a candidate says comes directly from his brain and to simply put it, a debate is a thorough test of the mental capability of a candidate.
As important as this is, candidate Buhari was shielded by APC from attending any debate organized by different bodies. They sighted flimsy excuses and by their action, they denied Nigerians the golden opportunity of getting a first hand knowledge of the mental capacity of candidate Buhari. That was a complete disservice to the Nation, and again, candidate Buhari got away with it and was voted into power majorly by the Nigeria Youths.
After being sworn in as President, he attended an Anti-Corruption Summit in London where former British Prime Minister David Cameron called Nigeria a fantastically corrupt Nation. The response of President Muhammadu Buhari was disturbing. When asked by Sky News Diplomatic Editor Dominic Waghom that is Nigeria fantastically corrupt? He answered in affirmative with an emphatic YES. When further pressed if he is embarrassed by what David Cameron said about his country, he said “No I’m not”. Little wonder when he was asked if he would demand an apology from the Prime Minister and he said “No, no not at all”. Such response is not expected from the chief marketer of a country. So sad.
Similarly also, in another of his visit to London, he accused Nigerians of criminality in foreign countries which according to him is the reason why many Nigerians are in foreign jails all around the world. At every attempt, he kept demeaning us and getting away with it with no consequence.
The most amazing get away President Buhari has enjoyed was increasing petrol pump price and there were no major protest across the country. He claimed government needs to stop subsidy payment because of the fraud, hence he has to increase the pump price of petrol to 145 Naira per litre. The irony of it all is that unknown to Nigerians, Buhari’s administration has being paying subsidy to Oil marketers. In fact, subsidy under this government went as high as 1.4 trillion from 261 billion paid by the Jonathan government. Despite all these, Nigerians are still experiencing fuel scarcity, yet there were no Ojota freedom park protest. Buhari should go and ask Obasanjo and Jonathan what they went through in the hands of Nigerians anytime they try to increase petrol pump price. Truth be told, President Muhammadu Buhari has being too pampered by Nigerians.
Now, only some days ago, this same President was having a CHOGM interactive session again in London and in his usual style he demeaned us again. He directed the insult to Nigeria Youths by calling us lazy illiterate. I have to pause for a moment to ponder which of the youth he is talking about. Then I realize this has always being his style especially whenever he is outside the shores of Nigeria and finds himself surrounded by potential investment suitors. Rather than market his country, he prefers to demarket us.
For a President that promised us 3 million jobs annually but instead was responsible for 10 million job lost to call Nigeria Youths lazy illiterate is indeed a PAMPERED PRESIDENT. Let it be put on record that Nigeria Youths are the most enterprising youths you can think of and like we know, if you can survive in Nigeria as a youth, then you can survive anywhere in the world. That shows how resourceful we are. As a President, President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the Nigeria Youths by his actions and also by the words of his mouth. Surely we will respond in 2019.
President Buhari needs to purge himself from the delusion of the integrity adjective. This is basically his major problem and that is why he has always goofed. He dwell in self righteousness while he sees other people has being filthy. In fact, the way he thinks, he believes that if the world should end today, he will be the only Nigerian who will make heaven or Al Jannah as the case may be. He should take charge as a President and stop blaming people, and in the words of former US President Harry S Truman, the buck stops at his table. From Jonathan to PDP to Gadaffi and now to Nigeria Youths, your excellency please STOP THE BLAME GAME. Nigerians WILL NOT PAMPER you again.
In conclusion, let me end the way I started that “even when a fox makes mistakes, it is not in the position of the fowl to say it”. The reason is that the fowl is an easy prey for the fox and you don’t provoke your predator because you might be consumed. Mr President Sir, whatever shortcomings an average Nigeria Youth might be experiencing, you’re not in a position to speak about it because you’re part of the problem. This latest derogatory statement might consume your 2019 ambition, that I can assure you.
Finally, a pampered child is a lazy child. You’ve being so pampered by Nigerians which has made you not to perform your duties. Should we be right to call you lazy?
Rotimi Erinosho is an Economist and he wrote from Lagos.
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