Buhari’s health: Between politricks and power

BY IDOKO ANIOKO

To say the obvious, Nigerian politicians can spring surprises anytime they deem fit like now that President Muhammadu Buhari is recuperating from an ailment. Homes have stopped functioning; offices have closed in Nigeria; farms have stopped churning out food; markets have closed in Nigeria.

What else? Schools too should have closed; law chambers and courts have also gone on sabbatical leave. And of course, roads in Nigeria, linking diverse regions and communities have closed in the thinking of some people, znd they are very few; but equally very loud and clandestinely pushy.  All calculations are geared towards who controls the strings of power at the center; not necessarily to offer service to Nigerian masses, but to nourish their fiefdoms.

Generally, Nigerian politicians never lack jobs all season. They are always busy 24/7, scheming and plotting in empty fields. But the sane ones among them have stopped campaigning for 2019. Yet, there are also those who run riot about politics anytime, anywhere. They are the wise ones. They claim God Almighty has endowed them with enough political wisdom. They wanFt to govern Nigeria or remote-control the leadership of this potentially great black nation, to the extent the Great ancient Greek philosophers would grovel before them.  They are present in all political dispensations as the back and the dark shadows.

But since President Buhari etched his sound leadership footprints on Nigeria, these politicians now only giggle their ambitions in the bedroom, with wives and children. They don’t speak about it in public anymore, lest they be haunted by known and unknown foes.

If they must speak publically, the words are carefully selected, rehearsed and measured, lest they derail shamefully. It usually comes in the colour of press statements. But in it, they bite poisonously and blow the air at the same time like the proverbial African rat, which steals the comfort of your night.

But behind the scenes, they act so venomously, like hungry lions. They prod, prop and instigate acolytes to go ahead and rock the boat. They have just found a new fish in the soup. President Buhari is sick; he is being treated and in his usual frankness has pleaded with Nigerians to allow him enough time to recover sufficiently to serve them better.

This simple and inevitable plea from an innocent, sick leader has sparked deadly emotions; intrigues and permutations. Lethal missiles have been hurled at him. Some leaders spoke instantly; others procrastinated. But while a top politician was hiding in his cocoon, he unleashed his attack dogs after a detailed briefing about the civilian coup, he intends to execute in unseating President Buhari.

He watched his minions navigate and exploit a human being’s health condition for selfish reasons or lust for power. Please, forget that it concerns Nigeria’s leader, President Buhari. It could have been any other person.

So, he waited and when he discovered his antics, including the grand plot to influence the National Assembly (NASS) to unlawfully unseat President Buhari, failed, he spoke up. He denied all. He profusely denied that Nigeria is administered by a cabal, as voiced by his loyalists. He praised everything about President Buhari’s administration. He sought to distance himself from the plot and at the same time, covertly resurrect the deep-seated hatred and animosities against President Buhari.

But President Buhari has defeated them and will continue to defeat them alive or dead. It’s needless to chronicle it. Sai Baba, as President Buhari is fondly called by admirers is a leader of destiny. Like the Holy Scriptures have admonished in Isaiah 54:17; “No weapon that is formed against thee ,shall prosper. And every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment… shall be condemned.”

Those after Buhari should understand in clear terms that Nigerians know these tricks, no matter how veiled.

Anioko sent in this piece from Kaduna state