Second Republic lawmaker, and Convener, Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, and Businessmen, Junaid Mohammed, has attributed the poor governance of the Buhari administration to the actions of a cabal working behind the scenes.
In an exclusive interview with the Tribune, he stated that Nigeria is an unfortunate position where those in the government are attempting to hide the truth about President Buhari’s health status from the general population.
He also added that “Just as the average politician, what Buhari said during the campaigns is in conflict with what he does after coming to power. I sympathise with Nigerians for voting Buhari. Buhari the aspiring politician and Buhari the incumbent president, if you compare and contrast what he says with what he does and from that, you can then draw your own conclusion.”
“I think that is an irresponsible statement from people who claim to speak on behalf of the president. Frankly speaking, he reserves the right to talk or not to talk to the people as Buhari, the person, but not as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“He owes allegiance to the people who lined up and voted for him to be the president of Nigeria. This isn’t a personal matter. What Nigerians are asking Buhari to do is what any responsible people will ask their leader to do. If Buhari talks to Nigerians to assure them that he is alive, even if he is frail, he isn’t doing Nigerians any favour. In fact, it is the right of Nigerians to know about their president.”
He also added that the cabal within the presidency may have more control over the affairs of the country than the incumbent President would like the general public to think.
“Look, even if Buhari’s own biological son is given the mantle of leadership, he is going to have to confront with the reality of the cabal. The fact is that this cabal doesn’t represent the interest of Nigeria. If you believe you have a problem, the fact is we expect that you are going to do something about it.”
“Now, Nigeria is trapped because the President of Nigeria hasn’t been Buhari, but one man called, Mamman Daura. In his entire life, he has never won an election and the only opportunity he had was when in the old Kaduna State, he wanted to be a senator from Kaduna or Katsina and some people wanted Mamman Daura to pick the ticket.”
“The people in Daura and eastern part of Kaduna said they were prepared to concede that senatorial seat to somebody from Daura, even though they are in the minority, but that they wouldn’t accept Mamman Daura as the person. So, he has never won an election.”
He also attributed the certain ministerial appointments such as the posts of the Secretary General of the Federation and that of the Chief of Staff to the influence of the cabal.
He finally added that the Buhari presidency should come clean before the public trust in the leadership become dead and forgotten.
“They said the president went on vacation and later they changed the story. I remember what an American president, Abraham Lincoln said, that once a leader has lost the confidence of its citizens it can never regain it. You can deceive some of the people, some of the time, but you cannot deceive all the people all the time.”
“Now, as far as I am concerned, this government has been lying and they imagine they can succeed in deceiving all Nigerians at the same time. From all indications, their game is over.”
“As I am talking to you, I am convinced that President Buhari’s presidency is dead. He may be physically alive and I wish him good health, but as far as governance is concerned, his presidency is dead and nothing can be done to resuscitate it. A presidency can be alive in terms of a leader, but in terms of programmes and achievements it can be dead and historically forgotten!”