PMB: Need for Public Swagger

PMB Addressing the United Nation's 70th Assembly

 

PMB [President Muhammadu Buhari] has been described as no-nonsense, a man of integrity, and honesty. One description that may not fit the president is 'he got swagger'. Swagger; colloquially called 'swag' is a term denoting a person's carriage, confidence and articulation - essentially, how a person presents himself or herself to the world. Pardon my 'millennial generation' social speak. But for most of PMB's foreign trip, especially to the west, the President has not really put his stamp of authority on anything yet. Nigerians are not sure of any foreign policy thrust, assuming we have one. All that has transpired so far are series of beggarly interactions and strange gaffs; especially the American visits - both to the country itself and to the UN assembly.

During his tenure, as head of state, in the mid-eighties, PMB was shielded from his current exposures because the government was more focused on internal problems. The government treated western countries as equals. The Buhari/Idiagbon government actually stared down Britain in the famous reciprocal airplane grounding scandal. They attempted to package a bag of corruption in the person of late Umaru Dikko back to Nigeria without success and every Nigerian felt the impact of governance. You always knew where you stood with the government and traditional rulers were put in their place.

Today, PMB is more like fish out of water and he has done himself more harm by delaying federal appointments to handle the affairs of state. Most ministries are practically grounded because ministers have not been appointed and funds have not been released. Most federal institutions are waiting for policies and directives so they can take off, but nothing is forthcoming from the 'man of the people'. PMB has said he wants to 'get it right' the first time, but he needs not get it right - just throw out what is wrong.

The effects of delays in ministerial appointments before major contact with the outside world were one of the reasons why the US visit did not yield the immediate anticipated results. Foreign governments need institutions responsible for policy implementation to deal with directly. But the president and his entourage appear content with being first to stay at Blair House in Washington DC instead of achieving concrete agreements regarding the economy and security - then of course there was the gaffe about '5%/95% voters' and access to government favors. The recent UN general assembly meeting exposed several loopholes in the nation's ability to organize and present itself to the outside world. Protocol, presentation, planning and preparation were either lacking or deficient - probably because there was no foreign affairs minister in place to handle details. PMB found himself led to wrong entrance doors, being late for meetings, missing meetings, stranded at buffets and finally talking to a depleted hall. The man should have stayed at home wallahi tallahi. 

PMB needs to get his 'swag on' without arrogance. We want him to succeed and make Nigeria great again. He said Nigeria is a great country in chains more than thirty years ago. Obviously, the chain is still keeping us down; and now PMB has a good opportunity to remove the chains completely - not just loosen it. We want other nations to respect PMB for his grasp of issues, ability to articulate them and establishing Nigeria as a true nation. His public swagger is sure to help.

  

"Its not what you do - its how you do it"

One more thing: 

It appears Nigerians will need to wait for longer before ministers are announced see: http://saharareporters.com/2015/09/30/nigerians-express-disappointment-september-ends-no-ministers-announced

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