Mixed reactions continue to trail President Buhari’s first speech since his address to Nigerians on Monday, 21st August 2017 after a medical leave to London had seen him out from office for more than hundred days.
Notably, the speech covered issues pertaining to Nigeria’s unity in addition to other burning issues that had been at the forefront of national discussions during his leave such as insurgency, kidnappings, farmers versus herdsmen clashes and ethnic violence, which the President urged security agencies to tackle in his address. The President also affirmed Nigeria’s unity as “not negotiable” stating that every Nigerian had the right to live anywhere without let or hindrance” and asserted his commitment to economic security, political evolution, integration and lasting peace.
However, while the President’s speech has been perceived in some quarters as giving further “assurance” to Nigeria’s security and indissolubility despite earlier threats to the contrary by some groups, sceptics including Nigeria’s main opposition party (the People’s Democratic Party) have dismissed his speech as a “monumental anti-climax[1].” They have also urged the Government to “walk the talk“ by instilling confidence that Nigeria belongs to all instead.
Others also point out to gaps in the President’s speech such as his direct attack on social media users whom he accused of causing the agitations leading to ethnic tensions while failing to denounce the actions of some groups that are “actually” believed to be responsible for same. Related to this, some online users responded to the allegations yesterday warning that it could be an indirect attempt of the government to restrict social media access through the back door. The President’s attack on social media users was also viewed as hypocritical as social media has been credited as a factor that led to President Buhari ousting of an incumbent President for the first time in Nigeria’s political history. It will be recalled that a Frivolous Petition Bill that sought to regulate the use of social media in the country to prevent unwarranted negative spotlight on public and political office holders was rejected in the Senate in May, last year.
Further criticisms of the President’s speech have also included his alleged “inept” reference to the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu – who infamously championed an independent Biafra state in the 1960’s. Although the allusion was used in a context that highlighted Ojukwu’s consensus for national unity, some commentators have suggested that the reference was “ineffectual” and that a mention of the National Conference Report in 2014 would have been more adequate in the call for unison.
Other highlighted gaps include the President’s silence on the on going strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities in federal tertiary institutions nationwide due to the Federal Government failure to implement a 2009 agreement. The President also kept silent on the true state of his health despite protests within and outside the country that are credited to have forced his return.
[1] PDP Criticizes Buhari’s #PresidentialBroadcast http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/241082-pdp-criticises-buharis-presidentialbroadcast.html
