Politics
By Toye Faleye
In
the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari, accolades have been pouring in for
Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
over his visitation to the Niger-Delta to stem the tide of crisis in the
region.
One
of the experts, Barrister Jiti Ogunye, a policy analyst, gave kudos to Osibajo on
his trip to the region. He says the trip has yielded fruit, reducing pipeline
vandalization by about 58%, as compared to when the militants were destroying
pipelines almost every day.
Ogunye
says if the government had adopted this strategy on time, things might not have
degenerated to a level where the country loses a whooping sum of money daily.
In
the same vein, Dr Ukoha Ukiwo, Manager, Nigeria Stability and Reconciliatory
Programme, scores Osibajo high. He says by visiting the Niger-Delta region, the
agitation has been reduced, while nerves have been calmed. He described the
process as a good step in the right direction.
He
however expresses that it is hoped the measure being adopted will yield a
positive fruit, and that the government will fulfil its promises, hoping that
it will also pay attention to other units who are victims of one irregularity
or the other within the federation.
Meanwhile,
Ogunye berates the continued absence of the President from the country on
medical grounds, saying if things were normal, the President ought to be in the
country receiving his treatment.
“Remember
when Fidel Castro was sick, he did not leave Cuba. It means our health care
system is still in shambles. It shows that the Aso Rock Clinic is not well
equipped up till now,” he says.
Ogunye
raises concern over how the information about the President’s health was
handled. He says, “We were told that the President was going on vacation only
to learn later that he was going for medical treatment. It means the President
is ill and that he would be seeking treatment abroad. If it is only just
vacation people did not need to visit him.”
It
will be recalled that very many Nigerians frowned at the way the presidential
aides in charge of information on matters concerning the president have
performed so far. They are of the opinion that such matters should not be
hidden from Nigerians who voted for the President.
Mr.
Femi Falana, SAN, a human rights activist, had commented that the information
about the President’s health should be made public since he had opted for
public service, expressing that Nigerians deserve to know his health status.
In
like manner, Professor Akin Oyebode, Head of Department of International Law,
University of Lagos, had also expressed that if PMB could speak to the US
President, he should have spoken to Nigerians too, even if it demands speaking
through the Skype.
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