I listened to the speech of
President Muhammadu Buhari in the quaking consciousness of an Arsenal Football
Club fan. Every football aficionado knows that the club has not been performing
“exceptionally” lately.
Before
Buhari, US President Donald Trump spoke. He gave a debilitating smirk when he
talked about the “killing of Christians and burning of churches in Nigeria”. He
said: “This is horrible; we cannot allow this to happen.”
I was
expecting Buhari to address this aspect of Trump’s speech with gravitas. But I
was served rice without stew. All words no point. I was disappointed that the
president showed his default lack of spunk and alacrity on the killings in the
country in the speech.
I was
expecting him to at least – in one sentence – state the measure his government
was taking to address the problem. But he divagated to blaming the herdsmen
killings on the crisis in the Middle East again.
Also,
Buhari donated generous paragraphs in his speech to “thanking and
congratulating” Trump. He appeared subdued; like he was in the house of a
benefactor. I had expected him to show his “presidential stamina”. But,
perhaps, the Trump factor trumped him.
By the
way, President Buhari said Nigeria is a secular state. Is this a fact? A
secular state when the government spends billions of naira annually on
pilgrimages for both Christians and Muslims? A secular state when religion is
exalted above the constitution and all known laws?
Well,
maybe I expected too much from President Buhari’s speech being his first at the
White House under Trump. His speech was at best vapid and tepid.
Fredrick is a writer,
journalist and media entrepreneur. He can be reached on Twitter:
@FredrickNwabufo, Facebook: Fredrick Nwabufo
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