On Buhari’s Dry “Hate” Speech

If the presidential national broadcast inspired you or gave you any kind of reassurance, or even rekindled your hope for a better tomorrow, then I salute you. You must be the proverbial cock eyed optimist. Me, I was disappointed! And as the president painfully squeezed his thoughts into the microphone, the image of a country adrift floated through my mind.

The speech is a rehash of past talks of this nature. It would be repeated on October 1st perhaps. There was nothing earth shaking in it as sentences were laced with officialese. But this is not what you tell a people you haven’t spoken to for months. This is not the moral boost you give a people almost losing their mind as the economy goes out of hand. This is not how to inspire a country harassed by demons from Hell. O

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Of course, the president’s traditional base would certainly celebrate this outing. For them, the fact that he’s back at all and can even be on radio is all that matter. His raspy voice must be good music to their ears. The command he barked out must have reminded them of the tough soldier they have come to love. Yet, for those struggling with the daily grind of reality, those wishing that we catch up with the rest of the world, today must be depressing.

I said I was disappointed but honestly, I wasn’t expecting anything revolutionary from the speech. I didn’t think the president would announce a new direction, or apologise for all the promises unkept, or instill any hope. He did what he’s wont to do: talk about the need for unity, warn trouble makers, especially hate speech proponents, reel out his “achievements for the past 18 months” (what about the other five months?) and thank his fans. He didn’t fall my hand as we say here. He did just that with scholarly finesse. And the beat goes on. He has given his speech and with that bought himself the needed time as the nation wobbles.

From now, it would be business as usual. He would get more visits from his base. Meanwhile, nothing new would happen. National despondency, fear and confusion would continue unless this presidency wakes up and go beyond an insipid speech.

Welcome back, Mr. President.

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