First Shadow of Doubt on Buhari Administration

Introduction

For anyone following events, statements and exchanges in Nigeria’s new political dispensation; there is a keen plot managed by the ruling party and opposition to contest the terrain of credibility. While this move is the natural extension of survival instinct towards victory in subsequent elections, considering that the administration is less than 2 months old; it is important to review this credibility quotient on a single variable.  Did the former administration leave office with empty national treasury?

Shooting with Talk and Repeating a Lie

Without personalising the issue, various persons and officials of the new administration & APC have at different times in the last few weeks made comments and statement stressing the lack of cash in the national treasury. These are strong and forceful comments made either to curry attention of the population, or they are part of hold-on strategy to save time. The main question is thus; was the national treasury empty indeed on 29^th May 2015? The curious thing about state-related comments is the near absence of evidence and also the expectation that citizens will swallow such statement uncritically. What the elected officials make of citizens remains mystery.

President Buhari, Vice President Osibanjo and various APC stalwarts shared in this merry-go-round mantra of empty national treasury. What did they mean by empty national treasury? What image did they convey? That state money is absent and none came/coming in and none is available? In any case the Federal government is constrained and is unable to have access to its own fund in its various repositories. Does it mean that Federal government has one single pot of money called national treasury? 

Of course a critical reader or listener will surely wait for evidence while reviewing his/her position of the commenter at the particular point in time. Repeating the same evidence-lite statement over time is tantamount to deliberate misinformation which in itself is a threat to the national security. Leaders must make themselves to be trusted rather than expect be trusted devoid of substance.

State Bailout

One of the mysteries meandering in the new administration is the case of unpaid salaries. Payment of salaries is not an achievement while non-payment is both subversive and reactionary. The tradition of non-payment or irregular payment of salaries is consolidating across the board. These experiences epitomise a state in a very primitive state of consciousness and a very challenging future. It is a national disgrace. Sadly and from statement from various stakeholders excluding owed employees, no one can be believed and trusted on face value. Something happened to these funds and citizens and owed employees are expected to fold. Wonderful!

The Federal government in the person of President Buhari has intervened approving billions of Naira to offset overhead cost and backlog of arrears. Various newspapers reported on this fund approval. Where did this money come from? Is it borrowed internally or from abroad? If it is sourced internally and from government coffers, was the national treasury empty? If the national treasury was not empty why was the President and his officials making statement on the contrary? If the treasury was not empty, was the President deliberately misinforming citizens to tarnish the previous administration on all grounds? If the treasury was not empty, doesn’t President’s action amount to listlessness and lack of concentration in the face of serious & complex issues?

On this point a serious factor emerges and this is the issue of trust. If it emerges that the national treasury was not empty and that over a month was spent telling citizens otherwise and finally fund there from is allocated for bailout this week; then the new administration has made its first investment in trust-deficit. This on proven evidence should be a dangerous precedent and a sign of things to happen. 

Early Flailing

While it isn’t early in the day to forensically analyse the new administration, it is proper to not only to critic but to extract evidence of credibility, positive governance, responsibility and prudence on its part. Naturally the new administration is overwhelmed by demands and requirements of office, the only equipments for positive performance are tenacity and delivery.  On these points does Nigerians hang their hopes, they are not expecting clearing of the Augean table but massive improvement towards restoration of their collective dignity.  Nigerians are not disposed to accommodate early flailing in the new administration. Neither do they have room for another round of questionable excuses.