The President’s medical follow-up trip to UK: AN EDITORIAL

Late last week, a statement released by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, informed that President Muhammadu Buhari would still return to the United Kingdom’s capital of London for follow up on his medical checkups which started during his last 10-day annual leave that later extended due to same reason.

Following that report, some Nigerians, who chose to sensationalise the core of the statement, returned to trenches (social and traditional media) and started talking about why the President should resign, go home and rest.  It peaked with Sunday Politics programme, Sunday night, on Channels Television, where the matter was brought to the table.

To us at The DEFENDER, it is unnecessary distraction to allow any controversy to grow from that press statement by the President’s spokesman, Adesina, if truly Nigerian people follow up with the workings of their government and leaders.  Upon return from the medical vacation in London, it was clearly stated by the presidency, especially Mr. Femi Adesina, that, in weeks time the senior man would need to return to London for follow up on his medical checkups.  If at any point in time such trip has caused break in governance, it would be different.  But it has never been as President Buhari’s display statesmanship, leading to his willingly relinquishing of power to his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo, has ensured that no work-stop was experienced.  This is the first of its kind since the beginning of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

As a result, this media organisation has agreed to send a word of caution to all categories of Nigerian people to see how the attitude required in achieving a great Nigeria does not preclude the followership from being part of the process of national rebuilding.   Without any fear of contradiction, it should be made clear that President Buhari’s willingly practicalised transparency and accountability, rather than being abused by the people he leads, should be well appreciated.  If the lack of these have been generally agreed before the coming Buhari to be the major missing links in national rebuilding process, now that he is there and people, instead of appreciating him for the laudable leadership qualities, just choose to overlook those qualities of him that have worked positively for the nation and they begin to abuse the rare opportunity, it would be out of place if moving forward is actually desired by all.

Much as people queued in sun, rain and slept through the night at polling stations to vote in General Buhari for him to help fight the gigantic corrupt cabals scattered across the sectors, to help reclaim the country from pains and pangs of insecurity all over the place and to seriously lay a solid foundation for an enduring, enviable economy for Nigeria, it is noteworthy to state that corrupt and impunity agents have been allowed by Nigerians, particularly in the media and even among the vulnerable masses, to be the most vocal in the public space.  Allowing these agents of corruption and impunity, who ordinarily should by now have been relegated to the background for their evils of recent past against the nation, to remain the most vocal and even celebrated in the public space is indisputable testimony that whatever failure or shortcoming that is recorded at this time should be claimed by the people themselves.

It is only in Nigeria that people love to celebrate the faults of a trusted government but decide to pretend like see-nothing over its good and positive achievements.  Ironically, the same people want to eat their cake and have it and that is glaring in how they celebrate corrupt people who are either refusing to surrender themselves to justice over the many allegations of crimes and corruption against them or have just finished spending their jail terms for same reasons.  It is sad!

The DEFENDER, as a new media engagement out to see into defending the truth and national integrity, has therefore decided to come out of the woods and hereby sends stern warning for Nigerians to know that desired development will continue to elude them as a nation, should they fail to change from such situation, where all they love to see, hear or carry out is no other than negative about and against their own government.  So, the earlier the better the masses of the Nigerian people come together – away from that attitude of wishing or celebrating evils against their leadership especially where there is no evidence of leadership misdoing – and begin to show positive side to the ongoing business of actually re-building Nigeria.