Six Challenges for Buhari

How is Buhari Doing?

Zainab Usman, blogger at Zainab's Musings

Zainab Usman, blogger at Zainab’s Musings

Zainab Usman reviews Buhari’s first 100 days in this piece on CNN International. You can read a summary on her blog, which I recommend following.

She says, “Since his victory, the pressure on Buhari and his ruling party, the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), to deliver on campaign promises has been immense. Growing demands for political accountability, enabled by a vibrant media culture, have led to unprecedented scrutiny over every appointment, every speech and every decision by the new government.”

His first challenge is Boko Haram.

Usman says Buhari is “ostensibly” on the right track for addressing the Boko Haram insurgency even though their attacks have continued. She notes his outreach to other countries, including nearby allies, and replacing the military chiefs as positive signs.

Addressing corruption is second.

“The anti-corruption agency — the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission — dormant for years under former president Goodluck Jonathan is awake from its death-sleep, ” Usman says. She thinks the most important changes may come from reforms like the change in fiscal management of oil revenue, already enacted.

With 36 states, leadership at the state level is also critical for the country’s progress, she says. She cites the new government of Kaduna state as a model that could be followed, with the example of “crowdsourcing ideas for the state development agenda.”

Forming and announcing economic policy is third.

The fact that the new government has not enunciated an economic policy worries her. She would like to see that happen soon.

Better public relations comes fourth.

She concludes her well-written article, “Supporting this ‘slow and steady’ approach with a clear economic policy direction, dynamic public relations and effective state-level leadership might just be the formula for the ‘change’ from the familiar ways of doing things that millions of Nigerians are hoping for.”

Growing Nigerian Identity

This is the fifth challenge.

Another Nigerian writer tackled the question of ethnic favoritism and the need for a Nigerian identiy in an article in Sahara Reporters. “We should be growing Nigerians, not thinking of ethnic groups,” Leonard Karshima Shilgba says.

So this is not just for Buhari’s government, but for everyone. I think Buhari must provide leadership.

The author makes some good points. “Which do you prefer; appointment of your kinsman into a federal office or good road network, quality education and healthcare, reliable public electricity, and potable water in your community? Let us reason together,” he says. Nigerians should be complaining about the poor quality of the roads, not about who gets appointed to federal office, he advises.

But I have to make a confession.

When I saw his name, I thought, “He is not from one of the major ethnic groups, so he has less of an ax to grind than an Igbo, Yoruba, or Hausa. He also has a bigger stake in a country that diminishes the importance of tribe in relationships, because his tribe, or to use the more politically correct term, ethnic group, is too small to have influence.”

Am I mistaken? Am I succumbing to a similar bias?

Can Nigeria Stay Polio Free?

Challenge six is to consolidate the victory over polio.

At a meeting of state governors, Buhari requested their cooperation in achieving this notable target. We could call this a sixth challenge.

“President Buhari assured the governors and advocacy group members that his administration would continue to give the required leadership towards Nigeria’s final Polio-free certification through the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.”

He said that the 17 years of polio eradication efforts should not be reversed now, after the July declaration of a polio-free country. The final certification from the World Health Organization apparently comes a year after the country is declared free.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were no more beggers in Nigeria showing off their polio-affected limbs as the reason to give them money?

Singing and Semicolons

One choir at The Unitarian Church in Westport is currently preparing Handel’s Israel in Egypt. I’m singing.

After this morning’s rehearsal a few of us gathered at Coffee An’s in Westport, known for their amazing baked goods but also other great food and extreme friendliness.

Coffee An's in Westport

Coffee An’s in Westport

One reviewer on Yelp said, “the donuts are a slice of heaven.”

I ordered a spinach omelet and a morning glory muffin to share.

Similar to Carrie's tattoo

Tree of Life similar to Carrie’s tattoo

We had to talk first about the tattoo Carrie got a couple of days ago – a beautiful tree of life. Wendy said she’d heard that semicolon tattoos were a symbol of interest mental health issues. Carrie confirmed that with a quick Google search.

That led us to the appropriate use of semicolons in writing, with Linda reading us examples from ChompChomp.

Here’s their first: “Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle; her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars.” Their examples got better and better until we were in stitches!

Coming Events

Next week I’m speaking at Bernard’s in Ridgefield CT. The author speaker series takes place at noon on September 10. You can register on their website for the three-course lunch and talk. Come with your friends!

The following week I’m going to Cincinnati. My sister Beth and her friend Stephanie have helped with locations for book talks.

The featured presentation will be at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, one of the country’s largest independent bookstores, 2785 Dixie Highway, Crestview Hills, on September 22 at 7 pm. Crestview Hills is one of Cincinnati’s northern Kentucky suburbs.

Are you near Cincinnati? Please come. Check the bookstore’s website for directions.

When I came home from rehearsal and brunch today, I found an email from Sheila, a recent acquaintance who lives in Cincinnati. She is helping me arrange an appearance at a Cincinnati high school. She ended her email with TTFN.

I had to look it up. Do you know what it means? Here’s a clue – TTFN!

Author: Catherine Onyemelukwe

Author, blogger, speaker. Born in New York, grew up in mid west United States, lived in Nigeria for 24 years, back in U.S. since 1986. Advocate for racial justice.

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