Buhari: Looking for what is not lost

BY TIFE OWOLABI

Yet another trip to Saudi Arabia for another jamboree economy forum. Somebody somewhere and somehow must be enjoying flying across the globe looking for what is not lost. Leaving the country at every opportunity that calls for it, without even transmitting power to his deputy.

Who jets out like a toad that frequently abandons it abode seeking refuge anywhere it pleases? Why does the leader abandon his duties just for an excuse to woo foreign investors? We shouldn’t have a vacuum in governance and the constitution expressly provides how this matter should be handled.

Last week, it was Russia to sign a pact with the Government there in a bid to further mortgage our collective inheritance so we can die perpetually over-dependence on colonial enslavement. What if something happens while on an excursion? God forbid we all say, but we may be heading towards another debacle of imminent crisis as we witnessed in the dark era of cabal late President Umaru Yar Adua where they hijacked the government as the President failed to do the needful and made Goodluck Jonathan acting president.

This is what the constitution envisages as a provision that the president must transmit power to the vice whenever the president chooses to embark on a journey.

Section 145 (1) makes it mandatory for transmitting a letter to be sent to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the Vice take charge while the President away on business or private visit.

In a statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, Media & Publicity, dated October 28, 2019, “President Muhammadu Buhari leaves the country today on an official trip to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend Economic Forum of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh.

“On the sideline of the event, President will hold bilateral talks with His Majesty King Salman and His Majesty King Abdullah ll of Jordan.

“On Wednesday, 30th October, 2019, the President will participate in the High Level Event titled “What is next for Africa: How will Investment and Trade Transform the continent into the Next Great Economic Success Story?” with Presidents of Kenya, Congo-Brazzaville and Burkina Faso.

“At the end of the summit, President Buhari will on Saturday 2nd November, 2019, proceed to the United Kingdom on a private visit. He is expected to return to Nigeria on 17th November 2019.”

We need investments no doubt, but right reasoning would have a rest and allow some else to embark on the wide goose chase of investors or better still not return from the Russian business summit and proceed to Saudi Arabia and later London.

Or are we back to the days of President Olusegun Obasanjo? Back in 1999, we could relate situations that we needed to start on clean stale and build confidence and trust since the jackboot wrecked the boat of international and domestic reputations in their military style of government.

Despite all the gallivant we rated low amongst the comity of the nations in international indexes, low in education, life expectancy, Infant mortality rate which is put at 69.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births,female: 64.8 deaths/1,000 live births.

There is gang up against freedom of expression. Little one wonders why journalists and activists are being kept behind bars on tantrum charges and asked to pay a ridiculous amount for their freedom.

Just recently, someone said every Nigerians is paying for ransom; “the bandit kidnapped you or relatives, you pay for the ransom to get person released, SARS arrested someone, he paid for bail ( ransom) government apprehends you and you approached the court to regain freedom, you are ask for bail at a ridiculous price, the equivalent of a ransom.”

Enough is a enough! All these charade and flying about with our scarce resources must end; let’s focus inward for the development of basic amenities; let’s create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Owolabi is a journalist based in the Niger Delta