President Muhammadu Buhari did not only break with tradition on Wednesday, failing to address the nation after he was sworn in for a second term, he was conspicuously absent at his own inauguration banquet, where Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo told Nigerians that the country’s best years are ahead with President Buhari at the helm of the nation’s affairs.
Buhari surprised some by not making a speech at his swearing-in ceremony, held in front of a military parade at the Eagle Square in Abuja. He had been expected to reel off his objectives for the next four years. Many guests were apparently not impressed upon realizing they would not be hearing from the leader. Officials billed the day as a “low-key” event. Four years earlier, when he took the mantle of office from former President Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari had given a string of promises amid a huge fanfare. As he inspected the parade comprising officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Police, Buhari pumped his fist in the air in salutation at Nigerians who had come to watch the event. Many of the guests however did not wave back.
The dinner, held in the capital Abuja on Wednesday evening, came hours after Buhari took the oath of office, but Mr. President was missing in action. “We are grateful to the … Nigerian people for trusting us yet again,” Osinbajo said. “That trust will not be betrayed. On behalf of Mr. President, please accept our deepest gratitude for your support and presence here this evening,” Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo told dignitaries, according to an official transcript released Thursday. The best years of Nigeria begin today, and by the Grace of God, all of us will live to enjoy the coming years and many more.”
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina confirmed in a statement that Osinbajo represented the president at the dinner, explaining that Buhari had flown on Thursday to Saudi Arabia for a meeting of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Mecca; where he is expected to address OIC leaders on the ways to “combat common challenges such as terrorism and violent extremism.” He is due to return to Nigeria on June 2.
The Federal Government had stated earlier that the inauguration would be low-keyed, as some events have been scheduled for June 12, the new Democracy Day. “Since the first observance of June 12 as Democracy Day falls into an election year, and as a measure to sustain June 12 as Democracy Day, the celebration of the inauguration and the advancement of democracy in the country would now hold on June 12,” said Minister of Information Lai Mohammed.
But a babel of dissenting voices have trailed the president’s action with the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saying it was a tacit admission of guilt that the election was rigged. “The failure by President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to make any commitment at the ceremony reinforces the truism that a product of flawed electoral process cannot serve the people or meet their aspirations under a constitutional democracy,” the party said in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
It noted that the “poor attendance and passivity of the audience at the ceremony at a time that Nigerians were trooping, in their millions, to the inauguration of state governors elected on the platform of the PDP is a further evidence that Buhari and the APC were not elected. It is indeed pathetic that at a ceremony such as presidential inauguration, where truly elected leaders address their people, make commitments and unfold their governance direction, President Buhari did not showcase his plans or commitment to the development of critical sectors of our polity. It also speaks volumes that President Buhari had nothing to say to the victims of mindless killings and acts of violence in various parts of our country.”
Similar reactions from across the board have been wide-ranging and critical of the president’s action. Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, President Emeritus of Igbo think tank Aka Ikenga, described the development as “strange” and “shocking”. According to him, “governors read their speeches and asked the people to look forward to something that gave people hope and food for thought. The only person who didn’t give us food for thought was the president. I think something is wrong; he is the most important person here.”
Human rights activist and coordinator, Otoge Lagos, Mark Adebayo, said it was an unprecedented indiscretion in Nigeria’s political history. He told The Guardian: “A presidential speech at inauguration is the norm in all civilised democracies all over the world. It’s not just a national disgrace, but also an international embarrassment for the country.
“The president did not say anything at a time the citizens are under extreme economic and security pressure and in desperate need of reassurance. He has failed us totally. It is the same insensitive indiscretion he displayed by refusing to debate with his opponents before the 2015 and 2019 elections despite national outcry against such a practice.”
The truth behind the president’s failure to make a speech, according to media expert, Alex Ogundadegbe, is because “he doesn’t know what to tell Nigerians this time. He now understands the mood of the people about his governance. We have more bad news than good news. Look at the level of insecurity, unemployment, even the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor has warned that the country might enter into recession again.”
During a live television programme, Akin Oyebode, Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the president missed an opportunity to administer a soothing balm on the citizenry by giving them “some impression of hope.”
A chieftain of rights group National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Dr. Amos Akingba, argued: “I’m not even sure that there would be a speech on June 12. June 12 is different from the time you take the oath of office; when you should promise the people, tell the people, inform the people what you want to do. You don’t have to wait till June 12. June 12 is just a recent approval. Today is the day you took an oath of office; you’re inaugurated. Let us know what your agenda would be.”
Lai Oso, a professor of Mass Communication, UNILAG, said he was surprised, adding: “Perhaps, he feels he said enough during his interview with NTA.”
The Director, International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, said it was sad that government appeared muddled up over May 29 and June 12. “If we are saying June 12 is Democracy Day, then why didn’t he do the necessary amendment to the law? I think the confusion is having May 29, and also having June 12 as Democracy Day. We should have a fixed day, so that when a president is inaugurated, he or she makes a speech on the inauguration day,” he said.