President Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja on Thursday, 4th April, for Amman to honour an invitation by King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan and to participate in the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa holding at the Dead Sea, Jordan.
Reports through the President’s Media Office states that the meeting seeks to explore investment opportunities in more than 140 countries and businesses participating in the Forum and willing to engage in sustainable partnerships with investors.
In reflection of the Rwandan Genocide , the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also left Nigeria for Kigali on Sunday, April 7th, in order to attend a Special Guest in the ceremonies marking 25th National Commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide with other world leaders and top dignitaries.
He will be delivering a speech on a day which the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed as International Day of Reflection of the beginning of the genocide perpetrated by the Hutu extremist-led government against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Also, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Saturday, April 6th, arrived Doha, Qatar, as leader of the National Assembly’s delegation to the 140th Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting that commenced on 5th April, and would end on 8th April, 2019. Saraki is to make a presentation during the General Assembly of the IPU on Sunday.
And a thousand and one questions pop in our minds: Who was/would be in charge of the country at that moment of absence? Obviously, as at Sunday, April 7th, there was none of these three leaders in the country.
The fact that such a lacuna was left in governance is symbolic enough, even at a moment the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen, was reported to have tendered his resignation to the presidency on Thursday, after a long fight to stay afloat of accusations. Who attended to/ will attend to the CJN’s resignation?
The implications would thus mean that, as at Sunday, there was none of the heads of the three government arms (executive, legislative and judiciary) present within the country or available for service; yet the nation kept running – but by whom?
If we recall perfectly, it is actions such as these which gave grounds to a number of military coups in the past where the leadership of the nation was not available and so, usurpers took quick advantage. The administration, across board, seems too relaxed and trusting of whatever antics unscrupulous elements in the military or otherwise may have up their sleeves to thwart government protocol.
The current administration, the executive in particular, seem not to show any iota of seriousness in manning their posts; seeking foreign travel for any reason and at the slightest behest while leaving the flock in their charge to burn. It has happened in the last four years that both the President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo were not in the country.
Just over the weekend, there were protests and agitation about the gruesome killings in Zamfara state – but shortly after the matter began to gain media traction, a directive by the presidency was issued that the government has cancelled mining activities in the state till further notice. Who sanctioned such directive that security and military installations be deployed in order to secure the state? Who gave such a fiat considering the fact that the major leaders of the nation were absent at the time?
It would seem, thus, that we have been running a proxy government through a cabal which we know exist but hardly hear about. It is now obvious that some collection of individuals still call major shots, whether the president is in the country or not. The people must not allow such a caricature of governance to prosper for too long lest we be beholden by a new slavery.
Featured image source: BBC