Understanding Buhari in 100 days by Garba Shehu | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Saturday 29 August 2015

Understanding Buhari in 100 days by Garba Shehu

Special Adviser to President Buhari on media and publicity, Garba Shehu wrote this OP-ED in commemoration of President Buhari's 100 days in office. Read the article below
The enormously popular talk show, Berekete on WazobiaFM radio, Abuja station told the incredible, yet true story of the hardworking and respected school teacher somewhere in Plateau state who hanged himself. He hadn't been paid salary for seven straight months. He came home to find that no one had eaten and two of the children had medical prescriptions for which there was no money. He sneaked out without talking to anyone. After a long while, news came home that he had strangely been caught with a stolen goat. On his day in court, the teacher confessed to the offense.
The reason he stole, he told the local judge, was that he hadn't been paid for seven months and when he got home to see what he saw, he just couldn't stand it. The judge allowed him to go home on bail on self-recognition given, as he said, the good impression the entire village had of the otherwise respected teacher. All were shocked to find his body dangling from tree the morning after. He couldn't live with the shame. In the recommendations and notes the Ahmed Joda transition committee presented to him as President -EIect, Muhammadu Buhari was informed that a section of the Fedaral government as well as 27 states hadn't paid salaries, in some case for up to a year.
 The Joda committee advised that this was a national emergency and should be treated as such.

It is on account of this that one of theactivities- please note the choice of this word:activities, not achievements- of President Muahammadu Buhari in these past three months is the settlement of unpaid salaries. This is going on right now.

Like the proverbial blinking of the eye, Saturday September 5th will mark the 100th day of the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC government which took office on May 29th after the new party became the first in opposition to unseat an incumbent government in an election adjudged by everyone as free and fair.

There are many out there who say that the performance of a president and his government in terms success or failure cannot be judged in 100 days and I agree with them.

But history will be written anyway. In the coming week or two, a rash of commentaries and analyses to commemorate the event will be made.

I myself don't deny that 100 days is long enough to know and understand the man who is the head of a government.

Buhari arrived power with strong support from young men and women and this country's poor. The new government was not favored at election by the monied power-brokers although that did not stop the President from taking measures such as improving security that are good for business and investment.

This government is business-friendly but not one that is for crony capitalism.

The new government inherited enormous problems created by the tainted PDP administration, largely caused by the lack of governance,corruption and lawlessness. This was mostly evident in the last two years of the Jonathan Goodluck administration. As the President continues to point out,the drift is most evident in the oil sector.

 I believe that there is enough on the ground in those 100 days to understand President Buhari, his government and what it stands for.

I will cite a few of these.

Before I do that, I will make a little confession.
In the course of electioneering, the presidential campaign had so many centers of public communication which, for whatever reason were on the loose.

There is a certain document tagged "One Hundred Things Buhari Will Do in 100 Days" and the other, "My Covenant With Nigerians." Both pamphlets bore the authorized party logo but as the Director of Media and Communications in that campaign, I did not fund or authorize any of those. I can equally bet my last Kobo that Candidate Buhari did not see or authorize those publications.

As a consequence of these publications, expectations have been raised unreasonably, that as President, Muhammadu Buhari will wave his hand and all the problems that the country faces- insecurity, corruption, unemployment, poor infrastructure would go away.

But that notwithstanding, President Buhari has given the job his best shot and the whole country is saying that we never had it so good. He has re-instituted the values of hard work and administrative efficiency. The President says times without number that this country needs to fix governance and that he won't tolerate laziness.

Some of the other activities I wish to enumerate also include the fact of his taking relations with the country's immediate neighbors to new heights. By their open admissions, this country's neighbors did not have someone they could talk to on the deteriorating security situation in the Lake Chad Basin area in Aso Rock.

Buhari embarked on his foreign policy on Day Four of his administration.

When he met Barack Obama, the U.S president told the Nigerian leader that he was getting it right and that it is only when Nigeria gets it right that Africa will get it right.

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon who came calling this week said that our president is "courageous, focused and firm."

Relations with the "G 7" group of industrialized countries have since been "reset" and the dividends of this have begun to flow inwards.

In the area of economic management, Nigerians are already seeing things happen that they thought were not possible in so short a time.

He didn't put a Kobo to finance the power sector. Yet, reading his body language alone and knowing that there are things you cannot do and get away with under Buhari, electricity supply all over the countries has risen to unprecedented heights.

Actually, some cities are on the verge of calling 24-hour, round the clock power supply. The country generates more power than can internally be taken by the deplorable distribution system we have on the ground, which points to the next challenge that the country faces.

Framework for the management of the country's finances has been put in place. The wobbly Naira is being stabilized and inflation is headed towards a single digit.President Buhari is keeping a close eye on the government treasury.

Agriculture is getting its own shot in the arm.
Rice importation has been curtailed and seven governors whose states are priming a massive local production of the commodity have had a strategy meeting with the President on the next steps that are coming. Americans say their intervention in our agriculture will come next year.

Boko Haram, which had more or less been allowed to fester for about five years is about being ended but what is even more interesting is that intelligence coming from the fired-up armed forces who now work in synergy with each other is raising hope that the Chibok girls may, repeat may be found in good numbers in a geographic location of interest somewhere in the North-East.

President Buhari is being praised at home and abroad for his ongoing fight against corruption. He said from the beginning that his government will not tolerate this vice.

Borrowing the words of India Narendra Modi's, he said himself that "I won't steal and I'll not allow others to do it." President Buhari has walked his talk since he come to office.

Himself and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have not only given up half of their salary, they have cut a good number of funding lines to their official homes and offices.

President Buhari also takes the environment seriously. He blames the lack of security in the Lake Chad region on the recession, almost drying up of the lake. He has undertaken to clean up the Ogoniland.

In this country, appointments and removal from office are done usually in accordance with a spoils system.

 A new government sacks officials on the basis only that it did not appoint them, by the predecessor-adminstration.

President Buhari has shown that his government is different. He wants to look at each case on its own merit and it is clear by now that he is not ready to surrender the country to burnt out politicians. Technocrats will have a big place in his administration.
He has appointed no ministers yet, but the government is running smoothly.

In this period of three months, government certainly deserves a pat on the back for improved power, reform in the energy sector, foreign relations fight against corruption and insurgency and the fact of Nigerians being at peace, not only among themselves but with their neighbors and the rest of the world.

In think in summary, I would like to end this piece by saying that President Muhammadu Buhari will turn out to be a leader in the tradition of Lee Kuan-Yu and India's current reform-minded Prime Minister Modi with strong and clear emphasis on detail and execution. He may however differ with them by not micro-managing things.

GARBA SHEHU
SSA MEDIA AND PUBLICITY TO THE PRESIDENT.

54 comments:

Unknown said...

Too long

Unknown said...

Too long biko

💋Hey boo said...

Seen

STERN said...

I obviously don't wanna have a bad evening. So i'm definitely not reading this bullshit piece of article.

Unknown said...

Too long.

💋Hey boo said...

The baba himself, abeg no fall our hands.

💋Hey boo said...

Jesus is the way the truth and the life

Unknown said...

I couldn't finish reading it but I know God would make everything right. Linda take note!

Unknown said...

I couldn't finish reading it but I know God would make everything right. Linda take note!

Unknown said...

I couldn't finish reading it but I know God would make everything right. Linda take note!

Unknown said...

Like I needed another reason to eat chocolate again dis nite ! So boring!!

Blog It With Olivia said...

OK now, well said... and this is particularly lengthy.






#it will only get better
#it must end in praise

Blog It With Olivia said...

OK now, well said... and this is particularly lengthy.






#it will only get better
#it must end in praise

Anonymous said...

I'm ashamed that the presidents spokesman can produce so disjointed a piece. What is this???

On his 100days score card...so all PMB has done is just activities - no achievement. Also it appears his governance is dependent on him rather than on strong institutions... It will not last...

Unknown said...

Fuck you!!!!!!

Unknown said...

Hahaha.buhari and his empty fake promises shame.
no matter how you idiot position it,buhari is a scam to nigeria,with his fake probe and appointment.
Muhammadu buhari the chief terrorist is a time bomb waiting to blast.terrorist garba go and tell the incompetent that he is a shame and we not deliver any thing to nigerian's rather than blames and complains.



































#sad indeed

Unknown said...

PMB change we want and change we're seeing long live PMB long live federal republic of Nigeria.. @Abdul

Unknown said...

Nawa o

Golda Awosika said...

I don't evn lyk ds man. President of the North Nigeria.
#*karlishah*

Unknown said...

Your funny

💋Hey boo said...

No kwilikwili and alomo go cure the boredom.

Unknown said...

Long live PMB, long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria, long live me, long live all of us to see the goodwill of this government.

NaijaDeltaBabe said...

Pls read n gist me

knowurway.com said...

Ok

james said...

Brekete is on love fm abuja not Wazobia

Unknown said...

Christie come over to ma house and pounce on ma fridge....u no naa

Ladun Liadi said...

Na afta 4yrs we go know weda all dis one na gra gra. Consolidate ur electoral gains by backing up promise with action or suffer public, irreversible demystification.

Anonymous said...

Buhari n APC are not ready to govern this country. What they want is war!

Anonymous said...

Buhari the tribalistic Hausa Goat!

@MEETD®EALEVANS™ said...


PARENTAL ADVISORY
***adult content***




I already understood him d very 1st day in office . .

Anonymous said...

Gerrout ..work and stop talking...if Buhari must praise himself,let him start by re listing his own promises and tick any fulfilled promise yet...fcuk..stop praising urselves already...shiiii

Anonymous said...

Kinda changing my mind on this government. Inflation single digit...come on we are not fools. Just speak the truth. I don't expect change overnight but don't say things that are not true. God bless Nigeria

Anonymous said...

From the comments so far, it shows the level of participation of intellects. Low IQs.........Linda, your loss

Jasmine Joseph said...

Who d fuck are u??? Ur just a copy cat of whilemina, abeg try and be original for once olodo

Jasmine Joseph said...

See this bunch of jokers, 100 days and nothing to show for it, even after 4 yrs he will still have nothing to show for it. Tribalistic, an gender- Biased old man

Unknown said...

Bitter cola best option

Unknown said...

It's a pity that APC has nothing to show in their first 100 days in office. It is now denying it's policy document that was the basis of their campaign. The public assets declaration where is it,even with the promise by this same man that it will be done,oh what a pity. Dashed hopes and a great disappointment,morning they say shows the day. Change indeed.

Anonymous said...

Still talk, no acts to prove.
~D great anonymous!

Mr. Stretch said...

Good job Mr. President! You should also please focus on our 'leaders of tomorrow' (Youth), they hate to read yet they are quick to open their vocal cavities, with no knowledge, spewing all shades of 'silliness'. May God continue to bless you as you fix our great country Nigeria! Amen! @iam_josholic

Unknown said...

Pls ask Okorocha to pay Imo workers . Don't no why d used d state fund to sponsor your election@PMB

Unknown said...

Another campaign strategy to scam Nigerians. Linda take note.

Unknown said...

Buhari go ahead and give all appointments to ur northern brodas,no gender balance sef.aboki president my sorry goes 2 people expecting good governance cuz u are a tyrant.

Americanah said...

Actually read every word. Interesting! May God strengthen you lot. It ain't easy to correct the mess in Nigeria mehn. We remain hopeful.

Anonymous said...

Screw u too biatch!!!

Anonymous said...

Full of typographical error. Kilode? Next time Garba, pls talk to us like a real journalist. Not like d SUN newspaper. Let ur presentations commands respect pls

Anonymous said...

Government of the North for the North by the North and West

Unknown said...

We ar gradually getin to the promise land. Atlst it is beta than GEJ 6yrs in office.

Anonymous said...

Damn bulls hit. Empty publication, campaign is over we want action and results.

ohwolerbee said...

My last Nepa bill was 12k,i smiled to their office and paid 10k without complaining....why?....cos there av been a tremendous improvement in electricity.....PMB is not saying he did it,but ordinary body language changed things....now imagine if he interferes.....SAI BABA carry go...may God see u thru

Anonymous said...

So disjointed indeed. Haba! Garba Shehu I don't want to believe you authored this. Looked like it was put together by a stuttering fellow who struggled all through to cover up a clear act of non performance. Now PMB can see how difficult it is to lead esp Nigeria. In 100days PMB has not signed any contract or pact. Visit Obama's 100days in power for knowledge purpose.if PMB fails who then can we trust? The youths will be the greatest looser. Can somebody pls tell PMB that Brazil just yesterday slipped into recession. That with the steady fall of our country's economic statistics like GDP. Inflation na recession we dey enter o..Sentiments aside. Remember that the saboteurs in the power and civil service sector who are predominantly known to have frustrated previous Govt are still there and with their game intact. You can see that the wonder works of GEJ in the power only became known when he was out of power. My advise- Move swiftly in a more modern speed and approach devoid of ethnic bigotry and jump start our economy now! You are disagreeing with NNPC so soon..

Unknown said...

Who can give Nigeria another Murtala Ramat Mohammed; someone that really cares to clean house throughout Nigeria for the common people of Nigeria to benefit.

He was killed for doing good; “the good is oft interred with their bones”

He did not sit down and fantasized on state management. He was ready from Day One to kick arses, no matter whose. In ONE WEEK the results were evident nationwide. To even consider someone as Fashola to be in office after all the ruse he has presented.

Nigeria has to prove it is not called the giant of Africa for nothing: giants step on toes, clean house; guarantee that corruption is wiped out for good; infrastructural development (roads, bridges, ports, etc.) in all parts of the nation is a must and closely monitored; schools and education of the masses is guaranteed; health, power and electricity is for all Nigerians 24/7.

Things cannot and should not be going on as if there were no new blood in the system. This president has to step up his game plan and act.

nedy said...

Nigerians are so carried away by all these higridipigridi. They are patiently waiting for nothing. 100days in office, and some governors had gone far. Mr president is still looking for people he will work with.

A party and a candidate filled with lies. 1 full year of campaign and you never had people you want to work with. Even these presently choosen ones, are still based on the assumption that they are good people.

100days is gone.4yrs will rush through soon. And all you will tell us is pdp and gej did this and that. All these politician across the parties, are just using us to shine.talking trash.releasing rubish on media.

Buhari you have had power for 100days.you are using the broom of probe like a magic wand. Not one person has been convicted, not one project executed. Just tribalistic and divisive steps taken so far.

Just start packing ur load. East south south and west know better

Anonymous said...

Everything considered: islam by nature seeks to dominate and not to be dominated; also, in islam, religion is the same as politics/power. This is the premise for PMB's actions or inactions, such as, the jettisoning of federal character as enshrined in Naija's constitution, to appoint mostly northerners into the nucleus of his govt. This is PMB's guiding light whether in his first hundred days in office or thousand years to come. Th/4 Shehu Garba should spare us this worthless dissertation. #goodcausetospeakup

Unknown said...

Plz point to note, Brekete program is on Love FM 104.5 not WAZOBIA FM

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