Twitter: @farooqperogi Many readers who responded to my column of last week also had lots of advice to share with our president-elect....
Twitter: @farooqperogi
Very interesting as usual, although I was expecting to read your take on the supposed sudden transfiguration of President Goodluck Jonathan into a "super hero" merely because of his timely concession of defeat. No doubt, he deserves some little commendation for the sportsmanship he exhibited in doing so, but I don't think he should be celebrated as his staunch, apologetic supporters and loyalists would want us to believe. His was the case of a man who'd lost all hope and who was left with no other options. Jonathan, if he had his way, would've marred the whole process...and his actions during electioneering lent credence to this. He only wanted to use the action to explain away his atrocities and maybe because a lot of us forget so easily, we fell for this prank. HE'S NOT A HERO.
Many readers who responded to my column of last week also had lots of advice to share with our president-elect.
I selected a sample below:
Thanks for yet another beautiful write-up. My own advice for the
president-elect is that he should never make the mistake of recycling the same
people that have held power in Nigeria since 1999. There should be no Jerry
Gana-like figures in his cabinet. For us to believe that he means business and
that his government really represents change, we want new faces in government.
We want competent technocrats in key positions. President Buhari should
represent a decisive break with the past. I’ve seen hordes deadwood PDP
politicians defecting to APC in droves. They are not defecting because they
have seen the “light.” They are defecting because they think the next looting
party will be in APC. While I won’t advise President Buhari to reject anybody
who comes to the party, he shouldn’t invite them to his inner circle, however
influential they may be. They are thieving saboteurs. English people say,
"He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon". These
defecting PDP members are devils. They ruined this country for 16 years, and it’s
time to keep them out. I am a fanatical Buhari supporter, but the moment I see
him fraternizing with these PDP devils in the name of reconciliation and unity,
that is the day I will oppose his government with all the strength that I have.
Enough is enough!
Jide Oladosu
Very insightful, Prof. Buhari will surely face a lot of heat from both
mainstream and social media (fair and unfair) and it is for this reason that I
used to caution Jonathan's opponents against peddling unfounded theories and
allegations against him and his government. I wanted Nigerians to use only fair
criticism because I feared that should unfair criticisms and allegations become
a way of life, the tables might turn after the elections and Buhari could get
on the receiving end of similar stuff.
Raji Bello
I think that you have offered the in-coming President (In Shaa Allah)
good advice. I believe he should remain focused on his campaign promises and
ensure that his administration does not give much attention to vengeance.
Governance should not be based on such trivial issues like going after
perceived enemies; it should be based on a collective will to entrench good
governance and a virile foundation for a sustainable development for Nigeria
and Nigerians. To achieve this feat, Rtd. General Buhari needs to allow people
of proven integrity to help deliver the promises he has made to Nigerians
throughout this struggle. Nepotism and ethnic chauvinism should not have a
place in his administration. His choice of media representatives should be
meticulous so as to avoid the mistakes of past administrations - no personal
attacks. He should refrain from making prevaricative statements cum attempts to
satisfy the aspirations of every single person because expectations are too
high at this time from Nigerians.
I pray that God Almighty Will give him the wisdom and courage to take
Nigeria to a high pedestal of development. Thank you.
Tijjani Abubakar
It’s so refreshing to read about your interest to stay put as a
professional journalist which you are. Your words are so reassuring because I
have been following your pieces of journalism. I know you can criticize Buhari
and he would be glad that you are one Nigerian who cares.
Sahara reporters? That would be interesting and would really elevate
the ratings from the ruling party who usually saw the online reporter as a
willing tool for the opposition. But I think your comment is hypothetical as
those examples are not weighty enough. The recent contest is not to be measured
with any. We are talking about 16 years of PDP rule which may be politically
correct to say that there is likely to no supporter of the ruling party in
their team. How professional can they be? Too early to position Sahara reporters
as that credible watchdog. As for the
General, thank God Nigeria still has someone like him left. Whether he would
heed to your good advice is equally unknown.
Everyone is anxious to see our President - Elect help reshape this
country. I’m also hoping that he can
compete favourably with President Jonathan in Press Freedom. .He really needs
to work on that because the number of "internautes" have highly
rocketed.
Awunor Augustine
In addition,
his jumu'ah service, his hajj and umrah should not become issues on prime-time TV.
He should also restrict himself to worship (without NTA broadcast) at Aso Rock mosque.
We are not expecting him to compete with the chief imam of National Mosque in
giving sermons. Also, we are not expecting him to move from Ansar ud Deen to
Nasfat to Nawair ud Deen for Friday worship etc. But we expect him to be the
GMB that he is. Our Sultan should be advised not to relocate to Aso Rock so as
not to bring Islam to disrepute. GMB is not president of Islam and Muslims but
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Aliu Salami
Very interesting as usual, although I was expecting to read your take on the supposed sudden transfiguration of President Goodluck Jonathan into a "super hero" merely because of his timely concession of defeat. No doubt, he deserves some little commendation for the sportsmanship he exhibited in doing so, but I don't think he should be celebrated as his staunch, apologetic supporters and loyalists would want us to believe. His was the case of a man who'd lost all hope and who was left with no other options. Jonathan, if he had his way, would've marred the whole process...and his actions during electioneering lent credence to this. He only wanted to use the action to explain away his atrocities and maybe because a lot of us forget so easily, we fell for this prank. HE'S NOT A HERO.
Àmà Usman Mohammed
Related Article:
No comments
Share your thoughts and opinions here. I read and appreciate all comments posted here. But I implore you to be respectful and professional. Trolls will be removed and toxic comments will be deleted.