Find below some responses to last week’s column . Enjoy: Great piece as usual Doc. Your and Ahmad Joda's stories also remind me of...
Find below some responses to last week’s column. Enjoy:
Great
piece as usual Doc. Your and Ahmad Joda's stories also remind me of mine when I
applied for the Chevening Scholarship that brought me to the UK. The interview
panel initially consisted of people I had become friends with over the period I
worked as Trust's Foreign Editor. So, they stepped down and unfamiliar faces
replaced them. One of the new panelists who came from Lagos on the day did not
hide his dislike for Daily/Weekly Trust whose representative he felt I was. He
said we were too critical of OBJ's government and supported Iraq and Zimbabwe
as opposed to Britain's interests. I expected my support for Palestinian
independence and Zimbabwe's land redistribution policy and opposition to the
invasion of Iraq which often reflected in my articles to count against me. But
a white lady on the panel saved my head. These things happen, but there are
always unbiased people like Joda to insist on merit. I genuinely believe
President-elect Buhari would succeed in moving Nigeria forward. But Nigerians
need to be aware that such change won't happen in months. Improving power
supply on a long term basis would, for example, take up three years. But if we
put pressure on the regime it could take a short cut that would, in the long
run, be costlier and less effective. Same applies to petroleum - building new
refineries is the ultimate solution but it can't happen as fast as we want.
Nonetheless, having people of high integrity in his government would inspire
many. And tackling security challenges headlong could give real hope.
Ali Musa
You
are simply on point. The initial paragraph is simply true. And the statement
about #strongmen and #stronginstitutions trumps everything in the article. We
just need strong institutions which can only come from strong men - the Real
Leaders not Rulers. @MBuhari is a great leader and I believe he will write his
name in the history books as one of the greatest leaders Africa ever had.
John T. Okewole
Very
aptly put. Even though the administration of Buhari would be potentially facing
a daunting task—like the poor state of the economy, depreciating value of crude
oil price worldwide, the corruption that's institutionalised by this admin
etc.—I do believe Nigerians will not be disappointed for sending Jonathan back
to Otuoke. Nigeria was heading towards total decline and failure prior to the
March 28th polls—which gave virtually everyone a good hope that a new
Nigeria—under General Buhari—is possible. It is a slap that Nigeria, Africa's
largest economy, Africa's largest oil-producing country, had to borrow money to
pay the salaries of workers. It is very infelicitous! This current
administration has completely finished the country's resources in order to
finance their seemingly never-going-to-materialise 2015 election. Thankfully,
Nigerians voted for genuine change else, another four years of Jonathan would
have completely run Nigeria dry.
However,
change— to me— is a gradual process and it does not happen overnight. With this
current situation, we are expecting to see a viable, sustainable and
outstanding change but we have to wait for a while. Buhari and Osinbajo will
surely put things in place. There is no question about that. Corruption will be
at its lowest ever level in history, punctuality to work, discipline (not the
military version of WAI), respect for the rule of law, infrastructural
development etc. will be recorded.
As
for the AIT hullabaloo, I— for one— supported the ban not until I read a piece
from you—condemning it. I endorsed it based on the fact that AIT carried out a
campaign of calumny and denigration against Buhari's personality which was
meant to deceive gullible Nigerians to vote against him. But I now understand
that media freedom must be treated with utmost alacrity in a typical democratic
setting. I was glad when the General rescinded the decision himself.
Muhd El-Bonga Ibraheem
I
wish General Muhammadu Buhari all the best as he is about to be sworn-in in the
next coming weeks. As the man is known for being the epitome of justice,
equity, transparency and good governance, I do believe he'll try—as much as
possible—not to disappoint. I don't see him as a northern version of President
Jonathan, just like many fanatics are expecting to see him. I see him as a man
on a mission to salvage this nation from the brink of total decline and
destruction; a man that is the President of NIGERIA—with all the 36 states
inclusive
Thank
you Prof. You have broadened my mind especially on Joda and Garba Shehu. I
would like Garba Shehu to become Buhari's director of press, Lai to retain his
position as APC's spokesman, Sam Nda as communication minister.
Ibrahim Abdullahi
I’m
now better informed. I must confess that I wondered why Mal Ahmed Joda was
selected as the chairman of the transition committee. Not many in my age group
know him very well. Unfortunately, Nigeria is a country that doesn't celebrate
merit and uprightness. That is why our age mates only got to know him well now
that the right government has come. The expectation of most people is that we
would have a person younger than him to chair the committee, but GMB knows
better. I’m convinced that we are moving right in the direction of change.
Auwal Gambo Ya'u
I
was telling many friends of mine that PMB will not retaliate what GEJ did, but
won't compromise in punishing those found guilty of corruption, stealing, and
other vices committed during Jonathan if proven beyond doubt. In sha Allah,
Nigeria is developing.
Abdulkadir Muhammed Yahaya
Very
intelligent and articulate writ- up. We
wish you were in Nigeria to partake in the government to be able to shape the
destiny of this country.
Idris Ibrahim Karshi
I
always have faith in those you trust. Right from the time I could read papers,
I came across your write-up where you talked about your living heroes, those whom
you had high praise for. But you know what? Those you recommended highly always
excel while those you underestimate always go down. You're such an eloquent
champion of not only the under-privileged, but also of those who're privileged
and honest but afraid to take advantage of their right to speak. You're the one
whom all of us should be proud of. Keep moving forward and stay away from all
the bullshit. You are my MODEL!!!
Muzaffar Ibrahim
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