The 2015 election was the fiercest in our generation. A one of its kind I must add, where an incumbent was soundly defeated by the help of the disgruntled masses who felt they have had enough of mediocre leadership and wanton disregard to the plights of the common man. This ouster brought President Muhammadu Buhari to the mantle of leadership amid wild jubilation and high hopes.
ASSET DECLARATION:
No sooner had this happened than things began to look differently, when PMB adamantly refused to declare his assets publicly as promised by his party during campaign.
Not until his media team couldn't take more of the heat emanating from social media before some half-baked asset declaration surfaced. It wasn't much of a declaration, but it was better than none. When the President was asked during a media chat his response was that he has always declared his assets all those times he aspired for the position, a very lame excuse but, WE GAVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
CERTIFICATE SAGA:
Up till today, not that we have any shroud of doubt about the CV of Mr President. But the allegation leveled against him concerning the disappearance of his document has never been addressed to the satisfaction of all. He didn't deem it fit to explain and save his ardent supporters from being on the defensive at all times. WE GAVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS:
It took Mr President more than 6 long anxious months to send list of his cabinet members for approval. When he was asked about the delay, all he could say was "ministers are just NOISE MAKERS". But that wasn't the disappointing part, when the list came to the public domain, it was a list that even motor park touts had predicted. Today as things stand, they (ministers) have proved the President right as only one minister (Audu Ogbe-Agriculture) can be said to have visibly achieved some level of progression, thanks to his predecessor who has set pace before he left. Minister of power, works and housing (Fashola) has no visible achievement. No improvement in works, nor in energy, nor in housing. Minister of Abuja has been reduced to a minister of SEEING OFF AND SEEING IN whenever the President leaves or returns to the country. The rest of the ministers are more or less idle and yet the President doesn't seem bothered by the status quo. BUT WE GAVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT YET AGAIN.
THE PUMP PRICE HIKE AND SUBSIDY REMOVAL:
No government in Nigeria's history has put the masses in such a difficult situation and still enjoys the goodwill of the majority as this government. The pump price was increased by more than 70% without a glimmer of resistance from the masses because, WE GAVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONUNDRUM AND CBN MONETARY POLICY:
The FOREX saga has made many people abroad abandoned their studies and left because they could not access FOREX due to CBN policy. The policy has reduced the value of the naira to more than 70%, but that is not the worst part. Commercial banks had stopped allowing people to withdraw outside the shore of Nigeria almost completely. You have the money in your account but you cannot withdraw. Yet many endured that and tried hard to forge ahead. But when the President was interviewed concerning the FOREX for school fees, his answer was unbelievably unsympathetic. Meanwhile his beloved son and daughter were at the time studying in UK. I was utterly flabbergasted. BUT WE GAVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
GRASS CUTTER MERCHANT:
The controversy sorrounding Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal, in the grass cutting scandal had to be echoed with the loudest social media microphone before it finally received the needed attention. However, even as I type this, the report is still in the Villa with the President comfortably sitting on it. So are many reports and allegations like that. The President's wife has warned us of the existence of some circle of influencers who have formed what people like to call the Aso Rock cabal that have made themselves untouchable and we believe her. She wouldn't have dared such a damning revelation unless there is truth in it. And I can bet my life that she tried to get her husband's attention and failed before taking that courageous step, yet WE GAVE HIM BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
ASO ROCK CLINIC:
Mrs Aisha Buhari and her daughter also made a shocking revelations on the racketeering going on in State House Clinic. While people have restrictions accessing FOREX for medical attention abroad, the state clinic is left in shambles more than 2 years of this administration - not to mention other health facilities across the nation. But it does not matter since the President can enjoy his medical vacation outside because, WE GAVE HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
FEUD BETWEEN NNPC AND MINISTER:
Putting the $25 billion allegation aside, which of course I do not believe such monumental amount was contracted, but I believe there is more to the feud than meet the eye. The whole country was left guessing and as at now, no meaningful explanation made to the public satisfactorily, but we’re asked to CONTINUE TO GIVE HIM BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
REINSTATING FUGITIVE MAINA:
Now we have the erstwhile pension boss, Mr Abdulrasheed Maina on the spotlight. This I believe, like many others, will go down the drain for in no distance time we will be distracted yet again with either another scandal of more magnitude or a deliberate release of a bit of a cheering news because we are magnanimous in GIVING HIM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
