First, I suspect that the brevity, brusqueness, bone-dry syntax and cantering logic of the speech will readily expose it to the accusation that all that the official speechwriter did to the General’s piece was merely proofreading. It was vintage Buhari apart from the haunting breathiness; a fallout of long hospitalisation.
Now, a para-nalysis (ie paragraph by paragraph referencing) of statements that boiled my otherwise gentle blood.
Here goes:
“…but I was distressed to notice that some of the comments, especially in the social media have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation. This is a step too far.”
– No sir. It’s not fringe mentality to question a political paradigm that appears unwieldy and unresponsive to contemporary pressures – however ancient its pinions, bolts and joints. To have a “red-line” (a new synonym for “no-go area”) is repressive, undemocratic and archaic. Not all campaigners for equity in nation building want Nigeria balkanized or dismembered! Sir, don’t be distressed yet, for the tone and contours of your speech can only open more vociferous disagreement!
“…late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura. Over two days we discussed in great depth … We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one and united.”
– Perhaps this is not your intention, but contextually, this implantation of Ojukwu narrative cannibalizes the seriousness of your emphatic declaration in the following paragraph. Private musings between two nationals, however illustrious their military and political pedigrees, must not and cannot transmogrify into foundational directive principle of state policy. As they say on the streets, ko jo o, sir!
“Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable.”
– As the President of a democratic space who led same as military head of state, and fought a bitter war to keep it one, your sentiment is understandable. However Sir, your sentiment is not a codicil hewn in stone. The process that led to the settlement and inviolability of our unity has to be overtly explained to the “very vast” masses of Nigerians who can then flow with the waves of acclamation, and where dissensions are rife, we may sit at the table of brotherhood and discuss without inhibitions and provocations from vampires of feudal demigods. By the way Sir, nothing in life made by man is irreversible – and contestation of interests does not irresistibly end in divorce.
“We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble…”
– Slippery slopes, Sir! While some “elements” may fit your description of being “irresponsible”…the problem is that the multifarious headaches of this country have the tendency to make nationalists morph to religionists or, worse still, tribalists… Blanket categorisations run the risk of blurring the lines between criminals and patriots… We must fight scumbags with rich veins of commonsensical caution tempered by civility and fairness.
“This is not to deny that there are legitimate concerns… The National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse.”
– People get frustrated when self-help gets attention rather than reasoned dialogue and robust agitation. When you insist that peculiar circumstances must be addressed with common tools that have proven to be blunt and ineffectual in the salvage process, then we leave door ajar for bottled up resentment and anarchy. Open-mindedness in dealing with nagging and unrelenting national dilemmas deserve inventive and innovative thinking from pilots of state matters…. After all, we appoint or elect leaders to govern… not to rule or fight us!
“The national consensus is that it is better to live together than to live apart.”
– Of course, several millions possibly share that sentiment…which is why it would be reasonable to scientifically confirm that “fact” by putting it before the generality of Nigerians to properly decide… and we can then arrive at a clear and certain “national consensus” of our nationhood devoid of sentimental attachment to mere platitudes and long-held arcane words!
“Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly…”
– These enemies of our people, especially terrorists, fully deserve our strictest condemnation and punishment. Their wanton disregard for human lives make ample case for vigorous preventive and reactive measures to eliminate their threat and spread. Yet, we must control our anger and not surrender to the language of terrorism in the pursuit of decriminalising the land space. We should fight, arrest, demobilize and make vagabonds face the full wrath of the law… Oh, yes, we should, because we are more civilized, governed by laws and moderated by shared interests and rights. We must not however be lured into a frenzy when we seek to fight and “destroy” criminals!
Glad to have you back Sir, and look forward to an exciting and land-marking moments…in the last 21 months of your tenure!
