OPINION: Nigeria's Presidential Media Team Arrives On Pilgrimage To London, By Tobenna Obiano

By Tobenna Obiano

Nigeria is a big joke. The political leaders sadly in the vast majority, are insensitive. The populace have since been rendered helpless and hapless. It is most unfortunate.

As a matter of fact, in the last nearly two decades, Nigeria has never had it this bad with any Government in power as we are currently experiencing. Nothing equals the show of shame that has held this nation down and backward for onwards of two years getting to the third.

The Buhari-led Government has proven beyond every reasonable doubt that they were ab initio unprepared for the herculean task of leadership. They have proven that they know absolutely less or nothing as far as leadership is concerned. Let's spit it out, they were only desperate and hungry for power. They have gotten it, and woefully failed.

This Government presents us with a touch of inequality, shamelessly overtaken by corrupt-stricken elements and officials, characteristic liars, the worse of all, alarming rate of incompetence. We have somehow been driven to the dark ages where a system of democracy is in place, yet from the backdoors, dictatorship is playing out before us all. This Government had no vision, mission or ambition set out before clamoring for power and it's very sad.

The other day, many of us were angered and felt insulted by a Government in power that has continued to rule the people in darkness and confusion. Most Nigerians aren't sure of the true current state of health of the President. It's been relatively an act of quackery and guess work. Even those believed to be insiders don't know the true state of health of Mr. Buhari.

We decried about how political office holders and officials are taking turns to fly at very exhobitant costs with tax payers monies to London to visit the President. First was the Vice-President, later was Governors under his party and then came Governors from the main opposition party and now, another jamboree for the Presidential media team. What nonsense!

The picture attached below shows President Muhammadu Buhari with Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant Media & Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu, Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Special Adviser Media and Publicity Mr Femi Adesina and Personal Assistant Digital/Online Media Lauretta Onochie as they went on the "pilgrimage" at the Abuja House London on 12th August 2017.

As a concerned Nigerian, I have lately been researching what it would cost to build a truly world class hospital from start to finish in Nigeria. I have looked at hospitals built and equipped to best standards worldover. I have researched about American hospitals, European hospitals, British hospitals and Australian hospitals. I have not studied much about Asian hospitals, but I have looked at what China has. It is truly heartbreaking that Nigeria doesn't have even a single hospital that can manage the President's ill health.

There is RUSH hospital in the States. It cost a little above USD300million to be built, but in less than three years, it had gotten in excess of USD3billion as income generated. Just in three years! They have excellent service delivery, world best medical practitioners and all you may think of. Why on earth can't Nigeria have a replica of same in any part of Nigeria, even if it's just one in Abuja or as everything is for them alone, even if it were to be in Daura, once it's in Nigeria, we are fine.

Nelson Mandela, the most revered African of all time while he was sick and drawing closer to his end, remained hospitalized in a South African hospital. As a leader, he strived in doing his best for his country and all her people. Those after him learnt from his lead and today, South Africa has so many fantastic hospitals.

Yet Nigeria, most populous black nation on earth and Africa's richest oil producing nation and 6th in the world has not a single good hospital that can treat as little as ear-infection of the President. If you check the cost used in running the Aso Rock clinic, you will be shattered in loss of hope for this nation.

If this administration were to be serious, they would have done the needful. It could stand as a lasting legacy and worthwhile gift that they would be remembered for. To simply build a world class hospital. To do projects of such nature would surely cost so much, but Nigeria has money. Infact, these are investments that if Government wants to borrow to carry on, the people will be very supportive. Health of the people should be a big concern to any serious-minded Government. Not all Nigerians has the outreach or finances to proceed to treat their medical concerns abroad.

What we have now in the APC led Government is a big shame. This is not Governance. For what it's worth, this isn't fair. They don't care! Who even does that? This was a Government that prior to the election, they promised Nigerians heaven on earth and after they took over office, their promise of change turned to chains. The populace are starving, malnourished and sadly, kwashiorkor is slowing having a come back.

In just two years, nearly 3million Nigerians lost their jobs. Economic recession has overtaken the land, yet the Government unfairly still denies that. Boko Haram is still having a free for all up in the North East including the kidnapping of UNIMAID lecturers prompting the resignation of many from same institution for the fear of the unknown.

In the middle belt, Fulani herdsmen are still Bosses of the jungle, where they habitually, with their cattles invade and destroy people's farmland and farm produce, rape women and kill those who stand or oppose them.

In the South West, ritualists and Badoo boys have also near fully taken over. Every new day births another underground burial ground used by ritualists. Lagos is a worse case scenario lately.

In the South South, militants have returned to the creeks, oil bunkering is high again and there seems to be no hope in curtailing their excesses.

In the South East, kidnappers are still having a free for all, where even brothers take personal deals of disagreement, armed to the teeth like Mexican or Colombian drug cartels and visit places of worship under the darkest time, desecrating it with spraying live bullets like Holy water on unsuspecting worshippers.

And now, the President is nearing 100 days out of his duty post. The people are angry. They went on the streets to protest peacefully that the President either resumes or resigns and what did they get, they were tear-gassed and water-sprayed. This is Nigeria and this is the Government.

Until the people stand up for their rights, for justice, equity and fairness. Until the people rise from their comfort zones, doing away with the pitiable standard bearers that hold us down, mainly tribalism and religious bigotry, we have a long way to go.

Again, what actually is the reason for this London pilgrimages or trips often turned jamboree and of what use is it that the Presidential media team are sharing same photos online. What's the purpose?

As the London trip is ongoing, back home at the heart of the nation, Abuja, the opposition are having their convention and the people having felt the promised change that unfortunately turned to chain, they are saddened and jubilating on a possible come back of the PDP. The arrival of the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan heralded a welcome that follows who is loved and revered by many. One may be tempted to query, is he still Nigeria's President?

The good thing is that Buhari and his APC won the 2015 general elections. If they had failed to win, someone somewhere would be fantasizing that, "oh he tried four times and lost out. He would have done great job if he had won. He will be remembered for being the best President Nigeria never had". Atleast he is here now and he has failed badly. That buries that fantasy that would have popped up in the future.

It is true that the Jonathan/PDP led administration stole crazily from Nigerians using the oil-windfall and the Petroleum ministry. Today, the Buhari/APC led administration are stealing the nation silly using all merchinaries within their reach, from the petroleum fronts through to various contracts in ministries, parastatals and agencies. The worse of them all is the Central Bank of Nigeria where through forex deals, nonentities and nincompoops are becoming stupendously rich and high ranking billionaires overnight.

We have an Acting -President in Yemi Osibanjo, yet we all know that he can't act in full capacity and his every move, stand or choice are checkmated.

An Acting President without balls and with limits. Is that one President?